Scottish Power is planning to double the size of its hydro-electric power plant which creates and stores energy. It says the UK will need much more energy storage capacity as renewables increase on the National Grid. It says it can add 400 megawatts (MW) of on-demand electricity by building a new dam in front of the existing dam. But it says the £300-£400m cost is prohibitive unless it can get a guaranteed floor price for its use from the government. In return, Scottish Power says it will accept a cap on profits. The Cruachan plant near Oban in Scotland pumps water 400m uphill at night when energy prices from wind farms are cheap. It then lets the water flow downhill in daytime in order to generate electricity when demand peaks and power prices are expensive. Scottish Power’s Neil Clitheroe told BBC News: “Pumpe d hydro is ideal because it’s relatively cheap, it’s virtually instant, and it provides power at scale. We will need much more of this sort of thing when we get more wind power on the system.”
BBC 29th Feb 2016 read more »
FT 29th Feb 2016 read more »
Energy Voice 29th Feb 2016 read more »
ENVIRONMENTAL organisation WWF Scotland has called on all political parties to embrace the country’s transition to renewables ahead of the Holyrood elections in May. The group are urging politicians to make the change so Scotland can become the EU’s first 100 per cent renewable nation. The call was made as WWF director Lang Banks welcomed the news of ScottishPower plans to draw up a £400 million plan to expand its pumped hydro power capacity at Ben Cruachan in the Highlands.
The National 29th Feb 2016 read more »