As the United Kingdom looks to cement its position in the green energy sector, it has unveiled ambitious hydropower projects to aid in the transition to renewable energy. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to diversify the U.K.’s energy sources and enhance national energy security.
Hydropower, a longstanding renewable energy source, operates by utilizing the kinetic energy of water to generate electricity. While some projects rely on dam-created reservoirs, others, known as run-of-river plants, depend on natural water flow. Nations like China, Brazil, Canada, and the United States dominate global hydroelectricity production, contributing to nearly half of the world’s output.
The U.K. has harnessed hydropower since the 1800s, currently generating approximately 2% of its electricity from nearly 1,700 hydropower installations with a total capacity of about 2 GW. Notably, two-thirds of this electricity is produced during the winter months.
The U.K. government anticipates significant investments in hydropower, with a focus on Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) as a part of its decarbonisation agenda announced in October 2024. This approach responds to the growing global need for energy storage solutions as nations pivot towards renewable energy sources.
LDES, commonly referred to as pumped hydropower storage (PHS), involves using two water reservoirs at different elevations. Power is generated when water flows from the higher to the lower reservoir through turbines, and the system recharges by pumping water back during low-demand periods. This mechanism acts like a large battery, storing energy for future use.
The government’s strategy to broaden the energy mix aims to minimize fossil fuel dependency and bolster energy security. Following substantial investments in fluctuating clean energy sources such as wind and solar, the U.K. is turning to hydropower and geothermal energy to complement the energy portfolio.
Historically, the U.K. has four PSH facilities, developed from the 1960s to 1980s to store excess nuclear energy. By 2025, the country plans to expand this with 11 new PSH projects, collectively expected to offer over 10 GW and 200 GWh of storage, potentially meeting a quarter of the national power demand. Research from Imperial College London indicates that 4.5 GW of new PHS with 90 GWh of storage could reduce energy costs by £690 million annually by 2050.
Recently, the U.K. energy regulator provisionally approved the first major hydropower projects in over 40 years, targeting reduced reliance on energy imports amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and significant disruptions to energy supply chains. Three new PHS plants in Northern Scotland are planned, leveraging local lochs for supply, pending final approval.
The Loch Kemp project by Statera Energy will utilize Loch Ness, while SSE’s Coire Glas project will draw from Loch Lochy, located between Fort William and Inverness. Gilkes Energy’s Earba project, anticipated to be the largest PHS facility in the U.K., will use water from Loch Leamhain and Loch Earba.
These projects, expected to conclude by the early 2030s, mark the first since the Dinorwig plant in North Wales, completed in 1984. Known as the “electric mountain,” Dinorwig can rapidly supply power to nearly two million homes.
U.K. Energy Minister Michael Shanks remarked, “Forty years after the country’s last pumped storage facility, this government is getting Britain building again. The lesson from the conflict in Iran is clear: Britain cannot afford to remain at the mercy of volatile fossil fuel markets and leave families exposed to the next price shock.”
These hydropower initiatives are poised to stabilize Britain’s renewable energy supply, diminish fossil fuel reliance, and support the government’s green transition goals. They also offer an alternative to lithium-ion battery storage, potentially decreasing the imports of raw materials and batteries from China.
Original Story at oilprice.com