Loch Ness 'Powerhouse' to usher in a new era of pumped storage hydro
December 12 2023
A new hydroelectric power station modelled on abstracted tree branches at Loch Ness has moved a step closer with the submission of a planning application.
The Powerhouse, home to a twin turbine hall powered by discharged water from Loch Kemp, will sit on the waterfront behind a linear facade etched out by a series of angled lines.
Home to a proposed visitor centre and jetty the pumped storage complex will be positioned on the south shore at Whitebridge and will have a capacity of 600MW - sufficient to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
In a concept statement Statera Energy, Ash and HRI Munro Architecture wrote: "The design of the powerhouse and sub-station has been inspired by the simple but powerful landscape while drawing on the fine tradition of the hydroelectric schemes of the past, where contemporary yet simple industrial forms settle neatly into their surroundings. The use of glass, concrete and stone, along with the green roof, is reflective of the materials, forms and textures occurring within the context of the site."
Works to the upper reservoir will require the construction of eight dams as well as an inlet/outlet structure. Upper and lower levels will be connected by underground tunnels and a surge shaft.
4 Comments
This view is from some one who hasn't thought through how a pumped storage scheme will work in an electricity grid which relies on renewables as the main or even only source of energy for the grid.
600MW across 200,000 homes leaves a figure per average home of 3.0kW.
Even if we go all electric for heating and personal transport much of that load can be managed. A figure of 3 kW per home seams reasonable. A typical heat pump to heat a well insulated house will only take up to 2kW. This leaves 1kW for all other uses. Figures for existing homes with gas fired heating are typically only 1.4kW and falling as appliances get more efficient.
EVs which may be one of the largest loads can be managed so that they switch off when other loads are present.
This is likely to be driven by price and when prices are high due to low output from other sources I would be quite confident that heating and EV charging loads would drop away and easily allow a 600MW pumped storage scheme to supply 200,000 homes in an all electric future.
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