Professor John Robertson OBA
From PV Magazine, today:
Gilkes Energy has secured planning consent for a 1.8 GW/40 GWh pumped hydro energy storage project, the largest of its kind to date in the United Kingdom. The Earba Pumped Storage Hydro project is located at Loch Earba in the Scottish Highlands, around 200 km north of Glasgow on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The proposed development would operate by transferring water between Loch Earba and an upper reservoir, Loch Leamhain. When the project’s upper reservoir is full, it would have enough storage capacity to generate 22 hours of electricity at its full 1.8 GW power rating, according to planning documents for the project.
https://www.ess-news.com/2025/03/31/largest-ever-uk-pumped-hydro-scheme-granted-consent/
Who gave permission? Highland Council? No –
The Earba Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) Project has officially been granted Section 36 Planning Consent by the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government. This marks a major milestone in the development of the largest PSH scheme ever to be approved in the UK, both in terms of capacity and energy storage.
The role of the Scottish Government is being mostly ignored and BBC Scotland, News, Business or Highland & Islands has no report.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
WE NEED TO REMOVE THESE HYPOCRITES FROM SCOTLAND
no more shysters stealing SCOTTISH WEALTH
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Great new energy storage scheme – but we need several more like this to ensure adequate back-up, along with battery and other storage schemes.
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“… more like this to ensure adequate back-up, along with battery and other storage schemes.” These remarks prompted a thought in need of informed guidance.
To achieve resilient, baseload electricity supply how much renewable generation will be required in different locations and from different technologies, and how much storage is required from pump hydro, from batteries and other still to mature technologies?
Crucially, how much baseload supply capacity does Scotland need: how much does England need? Where will this capacity be located?
I don’t know but intuitively the quantum for Scotland will be very different from – very much smaller than – the quantum for England.
To the question, is it likely that when the UK government invests/co-invests in baseload supply capacity to meet the UK’s (largely England’s) needs – whether in nuclear generation or storage – Scotland could end up paying its usual, population-based share (of c. 10%) even if this is to finance baseload generation capacity in excess of our own national need?
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More on pump storage news:
From Water Power Magazine, March 31: ‘Earba pumped storage project gets planning consent in Scotland’.
The article notes: ‘Planning application for the project was submitted back in March 2024. Known as a ‘Section 36’ Planning Application, it included considerable surveys, analysis, engineering design and consultation all summarized in an Environmental Impact Assessment report.’
As a non-expert in planning, that seems quick and efficient! A good news story?
And from the same article: ‘Earlier this month it was announced that a planning application for the 1.8GW Fearna Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) project has been submitted to the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government. The project, a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Gilkes Energy, aims to provide 36,000 MWh of energy storage. It is located at the western end of Glengarry, approximately 25 km west of Invergarry, and utilizes existing hydro infrastructure to enhance efficiency and economic viability.’
Yet another positive story of interest to Scotland’s news consumers?Anyone notice any of the above being covered by BBC Scotland, STV, The Herald, the Daily Record, The Scotsman? I do hope so!
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