A massive tunnel, over a kilometer in length, has been successfully completed as part of the construction process for a significant new hydro energy storage facility. This tunnel is a crucial step in the development of the £100 million pumped storage hydropower plant, which aims to nearly double the UK’s current electricity storage capacity.
The Coire Glas project, located at Loch Lochy in the Great Glen, is set to have an impressive installed capacity of 1,300 megawatts (MW) and will be capable of providing 30 gigawatt hours (GWh) of long-duration electricity storage. This substantial energy storage site will be able to power three million homes with renewable energy for up to 24 hours, making it the largest hydropower project in the UK in the last 40 years.
Pumped storage hydropower projects operate by utilizing the movement of water between reservoirs and lochs to generate electricity through turbines. The completion of this tunnel will enable the project team to gather essential data on geological conditions, which will be instrumental in informing the detailed design for the main construction phase.
Meanwhile, plans have been submitted for the development of a former industrial site at Ravenscraig, with the potential to accommodate over 2,000 homes. This significant planning application covers approximately 200 acres of land in the heart of the historic former steelworks site, marking a crucial step in the regeneration of this area.
In other energy news, Scottish green energy company Logan Energy has secured its largest hydrogen power deal to date. The Edinburgh-based firm has been awarded a multi-million pound contract to supply equipment for a fleet of zero-emission buses in the Czech Republic. This project, set to be the country’s largest hydrogen initiative, will see ten hydrogen buses transporting passengers in Mníšek pod Brdy, south-west of Prague, by the end of 2025.
Logan Energy will be responsible for engineering, manufacturing, supplying, and maintaining various equipment for this project, including electrolysers for hydrogen production, storage tanks, compressors, and a fuelling system. The hydrogen used in this initiative will be produced through hydroelectric power, aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.