SSE and Gilkes Energy have submitted a Section 36 planning consent application to Scottish Government Ministers for the proposed joint venture Fearna pumped storage hydro (PSH) project in Scotland’s Highlands.

The 50:50 development joint venture project is located at the western end of Glengarry, around 25km west of Invergarry and adjoins SSE Renewables’ existing Loch Quoich reservoir in the Great Glen hydro scheme. Delivery of the project would be subject to securing planning consent and a final investment decision, including an investible route-to-market.

Fearna PSH has a proposed installed capacity of 1.8GW with a stored capacity of up to 36GWh, providing 20hrs of storage and which would make it the largest such scheme in the UK if delivered.

Fearna could support around 500 jobs at peak during its approximated seven-year construction period, boosting employment and the local economy in the Scottish Highlands.

Plans for the project envisage the development of tunnels and a new power station connecting SSE Renewables’ existing reservoir at Loch Quoich with an upper reservoir at Loch Fearna.

Under the terms of the joint venture agreement announced in July 2024, Gilkes Energy will lead the project’s development under a developer services agreement with SSE Renewables.

SSE Renewables already operates the largest fleet of hydro-electric power and pumped storage hydro assets in Scotland. It is now progressing development plans for new pumped storage hydropower projects in the Highlands to complement its existing fleet and deliver the large-scale, long-duration electricity storage (LDES) needed as part of Britain’s future energy mix.

Fraser Allison, Project Director of the Fearna PSH project, said:
“We are pleased to have submitted a Section 365 planning consent application to Scottish Ministers for Fearna.

“This exciting long duration electricity storage project could be the largest in the UK for both installed capacity and stored energy.

“We are looking forward to continued engagement with stakeholders, supply chain partners and the local community as the planning process moves forward.”

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