Corporate Partner, John Morrison, provides commentary on a recently published report by BiGGAR Economics that makes the economic and strategic case for new pumped hydro storage in the UK.

With no new pumped hydro schemes having being commissioned in the UK since 1984, a new report by BiGGAR Economics on behalf of the UK Pumped Storage Hydro Working Group (convened by Scottish Renewables) makes the economic, and strategic, case for new pumped hydro storage.

Pumped storage hydro projects

The Report focuses on six new Scottish projects, namely:

  • Red John, Highlands
  • Coire Glas, Highlands
  • Glenmuckloch, Dumfries and Galloway
  • Cruachan Expansion, Argyll and Bute
  • Balliemeanoch, Argyll and Bute
  • Corrievarkie, Perth and Kinross

Long term storage

The UK's push toward 'net zero' and 'energy security' can be significantly aided by pumped hydro energy storage, and Scotland's plethora of reservoirs could be crucial in facilitating this shift. As the Report notes, if all six of the projects were to be built, it could result in a fivefold increase to the UK pumped hydro storage capacity, with output capacity increasing by around 3GW. While batteries will undoubtedly play a significant part in the shape of our network, pumped storage hydro could from a key ingredient in the nation's next generation grid. Pumped storage hydro can provide proven, large scale, long duration storage and bring balance to the network.

UK saving

The benefit of such additional storage is not only environmental. As the Report notes, an increase of 4.5GW of pumped storage hydro output capacity could lead to savings of up to £690m annually by 2050. Pumped storage hydro can also help accelerate the rate at which more variable / intermittent technologies can be deployed through providing the large scale, long duration storage required to support those technologies.

A just transition

The geographical span of the projects noted in the Report is not only helpful, given the locations of the current onshore, and planned offshore, renewable generation projects, it also allows for their economic benefit to be enjoyed across Scotland and supporting a just transition. The Report states this could bring up to £5.8 billion Gross Value Added and 92,800 years of employment in the UK, which includes £926 million Gross Value Added and 14,500 years of employment in the local areas.

Looking forward

Pumped storage hydro is not a new technology and indeed, quite the opposite, it is a proven, reliable technology. The technology does, however, require significant capital investment. If pumped storage hydro is to play its part in the mix, the question Government must ask itself is 'what more can it do' to support / de-risk investment decisions in, and to make a real market for, pumped hydro storage.

This article was co-authored by Jack Denholm, Summer Student in our Corporate Finance team. 

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