Gilkes Energy has received Section 36 planning consent from the Scottish government's Energy Consents Unit for its Earba storage project, a pumped storage hydro (PSH) initiative at Loch Earba.
With an installed capacity of 1.8GW and a storage capacity of 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), it will become the largest PSH project in the UK, capable of delivering 22 hours of storage at full power.
The planning application also features proposals for two large-scale peatland and woodland restoration projects, supporting a biodiversity enhancement plan.
Strategically located in the Scottish Highlands, the project benefits from favourable geology and topography, short tunnels and high head, making it one of the most economically viable PSH projects in the UK.
With planning consent secured, the focus now shifts to transforming the project into a fully designed, tendered and costed operation. This entails securing the necessary capital to make the project financially viable.
The construction phase will create 500 on-site jobs over a six to seven-year period.
Earba PSH project director David Tomb stated: “The sheer scale of Earba makes it a landmark project with national significance. To put this into perspective, it would require the construction of 400 typical lithium-ion battery storage systems (each with 50MW capacity and 100MWh of storage) to match the equivalent storage capacity of Earba. That is a staggering amount, especially when you consider the footprint of these battery sites.”
Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) systems such as the Earba project enhance system efficiency by minimising wind curtailment payments and reducing reliance on gas generation, leading to lower emissions and a cleaner grid.
Gilkes Energy is collaborating with the UK government and regulator Ofgem to implement the LDES Cap & Floor mechanism in 2025.
The framework is designed to attract private investment by providing financial stability for PSH projects, similar to its success with interconnector ventures.
Tomb added: “It’s been over 50 years since the last pumped storage hydro project broke ground, so it’s essential that we work closely with suppliers to develop the supply chain capacity needed for such a transformative project.
“We’re excited about the opportunities this project will bring to both the Highland economy and the wider UK energy landscape".
In July 2024, SSE Renewables formed a joint venture partnership (JV) with Gilkes Energy to advance the Loch Fearna PSH project in Scotland.
