Developer ILI Group proposes 1.5GW/45GWh pumped hydro project in Scotland

By Alice Grundy
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Cruachan Dam, Scotland, site of an existing 440MW pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) facility. Image: Drax.

Clean energy developer ILI Group has begun the initial planning phase for a new pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project in Scotland.

The Balliemeanoch project at Loch Awe, Dalmally in Argyll and Bute will be able to supply 1.5GW of power for up to 30 hours. It is the third and largest of ILI’s pumped storage hydro projects, with the other two being Red John at Loch Ness and Corrievarkie at Loch Ericht.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The Balliemeanoch project will create a new ‘head pond’ in the hills above Loch Awe capable of holding 58 million cubic metres of water when full.

Mark Wilson, CEO of ILI Group, said that long-duration energy storage, particularly storage over four hours, is “crucial” to reaching net zero, with announcements such as the new seabed leases for offshore wind making energy storage projects such as Balliemeanoch becoming “increasingly important”. 

To read the full version of this story visit Solar Power Portal.

Read Next

July 10, 2025
Tenders for 171GWh of energy storage capacity have been launched in India, including more than 55GWh in the first half of 2025 alone.
Premium
July 9, 2025
Coval Infrastructure has become the latest developer to submit an application with the California Energy Commission (CEC), as part of the regulator’s opt-in certification scheme.
July 9, 2025
UK BESS owner Gresham House Energy Storage Fund (GRID) has entered into long-term floor agreements with Statkraft and Markel Bermuda, which will partially replace its toll with Octopus once that expires next year.
June 27, 2025
Australia’s AER has approved plans to convert Basslink to a regulated transmission service, with implications for PHES developments.
June 19, 2025
BBVA has signed a deal to establish a revenue structure for a new thermal energy storage (TES) technology demonstration project.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter