📋 Project Overview
Coire Glas will be the UK's largest energy storage project when built — more than doubling the country's current pumped storage capacity overnight. Located in the Scottish Highlands above Loch Lochy, the 1,500 MW station will store 30 GWh of energy, equivalent to running every current pumped storage station in Britain simultaneously for over a day. It received its Development Consent Order in 2023, but a Final Investment Decision awaits the government's Cap-and-Floor revenue support mechanism.
Site Schematic
Schematic diagram — not to scale. Illustrative layout based on project specifications.
⚡ Key Facts
🔧 Technical Specifications
| Capacity (MW) | 1,500 MW |
| Storage (MWh) | 30,000 MWh |
| No. of turbines/units | 4 |
| Turbine / unit model | Reversible Francis pump-turbines (supplier TBC) |
| Unit capacity | 375 MW each |
| Head (hydro) | 700 m |
| Upper reservoir | New raised Coire Glas reservoir (1.5 km dam, 50m high) |
| Lower reservoir | Loch Lochy (existing Great Glen loch) |
| Annual output | 700 GWh/year |
🔌 Grid Connection & Infrastructure
🏢 Development & Ownership
| Developer | SSE Renewables |
| Owner / operator | SSE Renewables |
| Year consented | 2023 |
| Commissioned / target | 2030 |
| Capex estimate | ~£1.5 billion estimated |
| Location | Great Glen, Inverness-shire — above Loch Lochy, near Spean Bridge |
| Region | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57.13°N, 4.92°W |
📅 Project Timeline
🌿 Environmental & Planning
The Great Glen is a major wildlife corridor. The upper reservoir is in a remote corrie — visible impact limited. Key environmental concerns: red deer management, impact on upland peat, views from the Caledonian Canal. The site is not within a National Park or National Scenic Area.