Energy supplier plans pumped-storage plant in Scotland - 01/06/2009
Homeowners looking to switch gas and electricity suppliers may be encouraged that an energy company plans to build a pumped-storage plant in Scotland.
Scottish and Southern Energy plans to build the 60MW facility to generate electricity from Loch Sloy, while also generating energy by pumping water from Loch Lomond.
The project could cost around £30 million and would produce an additional 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) following a conversion to pumped-storage, on top of the 120GWh of electricity it already generates.
Ian Marchant, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, said: "Hydroelectric schemes which use stored water to generate electricity have an important part to play in meeting peak demand and also in complementing the growing, but variable, amount of output from wind farms."
He added that the developments at Loch Sloy will play an increasingly significant role as the renewable energy sector grows in Scotland.
The Scottish government is keen to promote the development of the renewable energy sector, rather than building new nuclear power stations.
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