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Great Britain is set to build its first new hydropower facilities in more than four decades after the energy regulator, Ofgem, provisionally approved a major package of long-duration electricity storage projects aimed at strengthening the country's energy security and supporting the transition to cleaner power.
The regulator has granted provisional approval to 16 long-duration energy storage projects capable of storing electricity for at least eight hours before releasing it back into the grid when demand rises. These facilities are expected to play a vital role in balancing electricity supply as renewable energy sources such as wind and solar continue to expand across the UK.
Among the approved developments are three large pumped-storage hydropower stations in northern Scotland. The projects include Statera Energy's Loch Kemp scheme near Loch Ness, SSE's Coire Glas project at Loch Lochy between Fort William and Inverness, and Gilkes Energy's Earba project, which is expected to become the largest pumped-storage hydroelectric facility in the United Kingdom.
Once completed, these projects will mark the first new pumped-storage hydropower plants built in Great Britain since the opening of the Dinorwig Hydroelectric Power Station in North Wales in 1984, ending a gap of more than 40 years without major new hydropower infrastructure.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the approvals represent a significant step toward reducing Britain's dependence on imported fossil fuels and shielding consumers from volatile global energy prices. He noted that recent geopolitical tensions, including conflict in the Middle East, have highlighted the importance of strengthening domestic energy resilience.
"Forty years after the country's last pumped storage facility, this government is getting Britain building again," Shanks said. "The lesson from recent global instability is clear: Britain cannot afford to remain dependent on unpredictable fossil fuel markets that expose families and businesses to future price shocks."
In addition to the hydropower developments, Ofgem's approved list includes 13 other long-duration storage projects using technologies such as compressed air energy storage, lithium-ion battery systems, and vanadium redox flow batteries. Together, these technologies are designed to provide flexible backup power during periods when renewable electricity generation is reduced due to calm winds, cloudy skies, or extreme weather conditions.
Ofgem Director General for Infrastructure Akshay Kaul welcomed the range of technologies being developed, saying the projects will strengthen the UK's clean energy infrastructure while improving long-term energy security.
He said expanding long-duration electricity storage is essential for maintaining a reliable power supply as Britain moves toward a cleaner electricity system powered increasingly by renewable energy.
If the projects move forward as planned, they are expected to become a cornerstone of Britain's future electricity network, helping stabilize the grid, reduce carbon emissions, and lessen the country's reliance on imported natural gas during periods of high demand.
