Following our early engagement with the local community over the summer, we are now consulting on our updated plan for the proposed development. This page has information on the project and the consultation including how to provide feedback.
The project
The scheme involves moving water between Loch nam Breac Dearga and Loch Ness, providing a reliable and flexible energy ‘battery’ that helps balance supply and demand on the national grid.
Pumped Storage Hydro is a sustainable and reliable electricity storage solution, leveraging the gravitational force of water between two reservoirs at different elevations. In times of low demand, excess energy will be used to pump water from Loch Ness to Loch nam Breac Dearga, storing energy. When demand peaks, the stored water is released from Loch nam Breac Dearga to run back down to Loch Ness, through a turbine which will generate electricity.
Located on the northwest side of Loch Ness, approximately 9.5 km south of Drumnadrochit and 6.5 km north of Invermoriston, the scheme is expected to have a storage capacity of up to 30,000 MWh and the capability to generate up to 1,500 MW of electricity – enough to power around 1 million homes per cycle.
Comprehensive environmental impact assessments are underway and mitigation measures will be used where needed to reduce any impact on the environment.
Consultation Information
The public consultation is open from Tuesday 22 October to Friday 15 November 2024. All feedback must be received by Friday 15 November 2024.
You can view the consultation information on the Virtual Consultation Room from 22 October here.
We are hosting four events where you can meet the project team, ask any questions you may have. These events are open to all. Please drop in at a time to suit you.
Wednesday 23 October, 4:00pm-8:00pm, Craigmonie Centre, Glen Urquhart High School, Drumnadrochit, IV63 6XA
Thursday 24 October, 3:00pm-7:00pm, Wildside Centre, Foyers, IV2 6UN
Thursday 7 November, 10:00am-2:00pm, Glenmoriston Millenium Hall, Invermoriston, IV63 7YA
Friday 8 November, 2:00pm-6:00pm, Balnain Hall, Balnain, IV63 6TJ
We are seeking feedback on the information presented on the proposed scheme in this consultation.
If you would like a hard copy version of any consultation materials, please contact us. Any materials can also be made available in large print format.
You can provide your feedback by:
Email to info@glenearrach.energy
Complete the online feedback form on the virtual consultation room
Write to us with your feedback at Glen Earrach Consultation c/o AECOM, 1 Tanfield, Edinburgh, EH3 5DA
Fill in a feedback form at an information event.
What happens next
As the proposed development will comprise an electricity generating plant with a gross electrical output in excess of 50 MW, consent to construct and operate the scheme is required from the Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. A Section 36 application will be submitted to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) of the Scottish Government.
We are committed to seeking the views of the local community and other stakeholders. All feedback will be taken into consideration by the project team as we finalise the design and complete the environmental assessments.
Feedback that we receive during the public consultation period are not representations to Scottish Ministers. When we submit our Section 36 application for development consent to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit (ECU), there will be an opportunity for you to provide comments in the form of representations to Scottish Ministers. These representations will be considered in the determination of the Section 36 application.