Planning submitted for new pumped hydro scheme

[dan_b]

Anyone heard of this one before - seems like a pretty big scheme?

https://renews.biz/94449/ili-files-15gw ... plication/

[NoraBatty]

No, but it sounds awesome

[Mart]

That is big, 1.5GW/45GWh, much bigger than Dinorwig (in energy) which is 1.8GW/9.1GWh.

Kinda equates to an additional interconnecter for excesses and shortfalls of RE generation. And 5yrs is a very respectable timeline.

[Fintray]

Looks good, hope they include a visitor centre.

[dan_b]

Was going to ask how it compares power and energy-wise to Dinorwig, looks like it's a biggun!
There are several other Scottish pumped hydro schemes in the pipeline as well - just been Googling:

Cruachan - expansion of existing facility from 400MW with an additional 600MW of power capacity (not sure of energy storage) - complete by 2030

Corrievarkie - a new 600MW facility - saying completion by 2033

Glenmuckloch - a new 400MW plant in the site of an old coal mine and to be a hybrid hydro and wind farm - 1600MWh of storage capacity - apparently to be completed by 2027 but not sure about that

Red John - a 450MW scheme off Loch Ness - construction to begin in 2026...

Coire Glas - 1.5GW scheme in Loch Lochy - claiming to have it complete by 2031

[nowty]

Links to the official project websites.

There are several other Scottish pumped hydro schemes in the pipeline as well - just been Googling:

Cruachan - expansion of existing facility from 400MW with an additional 600MW of power capacity (not sure of energy storage) - complete by 2030

https://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruachan_Power_Station

Corrievarkie - a new 600MW facility - saying completion by 2033

https://www.corrievarkiepsh.co.uk/

Glenmuckloch - a new 400MW plant in the site of an old coal mine and to be a hybrid hydro and wind farm - 1600MWh of storage capacity - apparently to be completed by 2027 but not sure about that

https://www.op-en.co.uk/projects/glenmu ... rage-hydro

Red John - a 450MW scheme off Loch Ness - construction to begin in 2026...

Project now re-named to Loch na Cathrach
https://projects.statkraft.co.uk/loch-na-cathrach/

Coire Glas - 1.5GW scheme in Loch Lochy - claiming to have it complete by 2031

https://www.coireglas.com/

[Adokforme]

First I've heard of it too, but ILI group were responsible for the planning stages of the original Red John Scheme, now due for completion in 2030. Back in 2019, I think, ILI were raising funds on the Abundance crowdfunding website for the next stage in which we took part. They have a very successful history when it comes to renewable schemes so lets hope this follows a similar path.
Brilliant to see a bevy of new Hydro schemes planned.

[CrofterMannie]

There is another one at Loch Kemp, just a few km from Loch Cathrach.
And initial talk of one on the other side of loch Ness at Glen Eearach.

Some of these are speculative attempts to get permission so they can try to sell the project on (this appears to be ILIs business model) and so don't expect them all to be constructed.

[nowty]

There is another one at Loch Kemp, just a few km from Loch Cathrach.
And initial talk of one on the other side of loch Ness at Glen Eearach.

Some of these are speculative attempts to get permission so they can try to sell the project on (this appears to be ILIs business model) and so don't expect them all to be constructed.

https://lochkempstorage.co.uk/

https://www.glenearrach.energy/

[AE-NMidlands]

I wonder how many of even the genuine proposals will actually get built? As I understand it the grid charges for moving electricity both in and out still apply, which has killed all physical progress to date...
(The last I could find was that they were "consulting" for a second time.)
Things are happening elsewhere though: https://ease-storage.eu/wp-content/uplo ... s_EASE.pdf says

A good example deserving of a closer look is Ireland, an island country
with a high level of renewable energy use, which has recently addressed the barrier of double charging of
stored energy. The Irish CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities) eliminated double charging for energy
storage, as a temporary solution to the identified problem that energy storage providers had to pay both
demand related and generation related network charges. The CRU decided to apply demand related
network charges and cease generation related charges to commercial energy storage providers, as a
temporary solution before the full review of grid charges.

- but this is an energy industry document about the EU. I have found https://modoenergy.com/research/electri ... gy-storage which seems to say battery storage in the UK can avoid most charges, but I don't know the relative magnitude of the ones they can't avoid. I'm hoping it doesn't just apply to batteries either, https://www.nationalgrideso.com/industr ... facilities says

The modification aims to remove liability from storage facilities for Balancing Services Use of System (BSUoS) charges on imports. CMP281 was withdrawn by the original Proposer and in line with Section 8.16.10 of the CUSC the Modification has been adopted by First Hydro Company. 
Modification status:
Concluded - CMP281: Removal of BSUoS Charges From Energy Taken From the National Grid System by Storage Facilities
Last updated:
20 March 2024
Code Administrator Contact: cusc.team@nationalgrideso.com
Governance Route: Standard
Impacts:
* Low: National Grid: Changes will be required to the BSUoS billing systems to tag out the appropriate metered import volumes for the purpose of the BSUoS charging base. Suppliers: The reduced recovery of BSUoS charges from storage operators will need to be recovered from the balance of parties liable to BSUoS. We estimate the impact to be small: circa 3.5TWh of pumping = circa1.5% of supply liable for BSUoS = circa 0.75% of total BSUoS bill.

which doesn't sound like a game-changer, but maybe the UK is at last starting to move in the right direction?