Loch Ness Could Become the UK’s Largest Green Battery

Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) is betting on Scotland’s most famous loch to solve a critical piece of the UK’s renewable energy puzzle. The company has proposed a massive pumped storage hydro (PSH) project on Loch Ness—one that could store 34 GWh of energy, equivalent to 74% of the loch’s total planned PSH capacity. If approved, it would be among the UK’s largest energy storage initiatives, with operations slated to begin by 2030.

A Grid Game-Changer

The numbers behind the project are staggering. With a 2 GW capacity—comparable to the output of 800 onshore wind turbines—the system could slash the UK grid’s carbon footprint by 10%. AECOM, the engineering firm analyzing the proposal, emphasized its potential to bolster Scotland’s net-zero ambitions while stabilizing an increasingly renewables-dependent grid. Over 20 years, GEE estimates £2.9 billion in net system benefits, making it not just an environmental win but an economic one.

“This isn’t just about storing energy—it’s about rethinking how the grid handles renewables at scale,” says an AECOM spokesperson.

Community Backing and Compromises

Highland residents appear largely on board: 56% support the project, while only 16% oppose it. That approval didn’t come without concessions. After four rounds of community consultations, GEE adjusted the design to reduce visual and ecological impacts. The final plan uses just half of Loch Ness’s available water while delivering two-thirds of its total planned PSH generating capacity.

Local benefits sweeten the deal. The construction phase will create 1,000 jobs at its peak, and a multi-million-pound community fund promises long-term investment in the region. For a rural area where large-scale infrastructure projects often spark division, the balance of economic upside and environmental caution seems to be striking a rare chord.

The Race to 2030

GEE is pushing to break ground soon, aiming for operations to commence by the end of the decade. If successful, Loch Ness—more famous for mythical monsters than megawatts—could become a linchpin in the UK’s transition to clean energy. The project underscores a broader truth: as renewables dominate generation, storage solutions like PSH are no longer optional. They’re the missing link keeping the lights on when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.