Gilkes Energy has begun work on its first pumped storage hydro project, the 900 MW Earba Storage Project in the UK.
The proposal is to use Loch a’ Bhealaich Leamhain as the upper reservoir and Lochan na h-Earba as the lower reservoir. A tunnel about 3 km long will connect the two water bodies. A powerhouse will be constructed on the shore of Loch Earba. The proposed project will store up to 33,000 MWh of energy.
Gilkes said the site characteristics are ideal for a pumped storage hydro project. This includes the geology and topography around the existing lochs, which are natural bowl shapes and therefore allow straightforward modification to form the reservoirs. In addition, the National Grid transmission network is in close proximity to the site.
It is anticipated that the construction period for the Earba storage development would last about three to four years, and the workforce would average 300 to 400 people on-site throughout this construction phase.
Gilkes said its goal with developing and investing in pumped storage hydro capacity is to help more renewables be added to the UK system, displacing expensive and carbon-emitting gas generation and speeding up the transition to a clean, carbon-free economy. The project can store significant amounts of surplus wind energy, which would otherwise be lost, and potentially save over 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
“After a number of years work, we are delighted to launch the Earba Pumped Storage Hydro project,” said Carl Crompton, managing director of Gilkes Energy. “At up to 900MW installed capacity and 33,000MWh stored energy, this will be the largest such project in the UK.”
Gilkes specializes in developing conventional hydropower and pumped storage hydro projects in the UK.Gilkes Energy Proposes to Develop 900 MW Earba Storage Project
Gilkes Energy has begun work on its first pumped storage hydro project, the 900 MW Earba Storage Project in the UK.
The proposal is to use Loch a’ Bhealaich Leamhain as the upper reservoir and Lochan na h-Earba as the lower reservoir. A tunnel about 3 km long will connect the two water bodies. A powerhouse will be constructed on the shore of Loch Earba. The proposed project will store up to 33,000 MWh of energy.
Gilkes said the site characteristics are ideal for a pumped storage hydro project. This includes the geology and topography around the existing lochs, which are natural bowl shapes and therefore allow straightforward modification to form the reservoirs. In addition, the National Grid transmission network is in close proximity to the site.
It is anticipated that the construction period for the Earba storage development would last about three to four years, and the workforce would average 300 to 400 people on-site throughout this construction phase.
Gilkes said its goal with developing and investing in pumped storage hydro capacity is to help more renewables be added to the UK system, displacing expensive and carbon-emitting gas generation and speeding up the transition to a clean, carbon-free economy. The project can store significant amounts of surplus wind energy, which would otherwise be lost, and potentially save over 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
“After a number of years work, we are delighted to launch the Earba Pumped Storage Hydro project,” said Carl Crompton, managing director of Gilkes Energy. “At up to 900MW installed capacity and 33,000MWh stored energy, this will be the largest such project in the UK.”
Gilkes specializes in developing conventional hydropower and pumped storage hydro projects in the UK.
