Loch Ness residents are invited to attend Glen Earrach Energy’s upcoming early community engagement events in Invermoriston and Whitebridge.
Events will be held between 16:00 to 20:00 on Wednesday 18th September in Invermoriston at the Glenmoriston Millenium Hall, and between 16:00 to 20:00 in Whitebridge on Thursday 19th September at the Wildside Centre.
Early registration is encouraged through this link https://rsvp.zkipster.com/_9gmjj
Attendees are encouraged to give their views on how the 2,000 MW pumped storage hydro project can be best integrated into local communities.
Loch Ness residents have been invited to attend further upcoming community engagement events later this month to give their views on the UK’s largest and most water-efficient pumped storage hydro (PSH) project. Glen Earrach Energy, the developer proposing the 2,000 MW facility on the Balmacaan Estate, is continuing its early outreach effort with local communities.
The events will provide the opportunity for residents to learn more about the project, meet the project delivery team and provide feedback, as well as give their views on how a Community Benefit Fund can best improve the local community.
Due to the substantial height difference exceeding 480 metres between Loch Ness and Breac Dearga, the project will be capable of moving less water and generating more energy and electricity storage than all other PSH projects on Loch Ness combined.
Glen Earrach Energy Director Roderick MacLeod said: “Ahead of Glen Earrach Energy’s formal consultation that will follow this autumn, we’re pleased to be in Invermoriston and Whitebridge to get the views of the communities that will guide the project’s ongoing development.
“So far, Glen Earrach Energy has engaged with a substantial number of local residents. By doing this, we can ensure that their perspectives and ideas are incorporated into the design and environmental impact to ensure we best integrate this project into the landscape and community.”
“As landowners, we are committed to maximising the positive impact of this project, and that includes delivering a substantial Community Benefit Fund that will benefit both the environment and the community.
Glen Earrach Energy values the community’s input to guide the project’s ongoing development, with its last community engagement events in Glen Urquhart and Balnain being attended by more than 120 residents over both events from the local area.
Since the first early community engagement event in Glen Urquhart in May 2024, GEE has:
Appointed international hydropower expert Martin Lacey to its project delivery team. His expertise in project execution and management, including successful projects in Georgia and China, will be instrumental in driving forward the development of GEE’s flagship PSH project in Scotland.
Met with the newly appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, at a British Hydropower Association PSH event where he outlined the UK government’s commitment to clean energy and the vital role of PSH in achieving net zero targets.
Outlined its thoughts on how the government can use its unique capacity to shape the long-duration electricity storage market, steering it away from vested interests and ensuring it benefits consumers through lower electricity costs, taxpayers through tax revenues from PSH operations, communities through local benefit funds, and the environment by significantly reducing carbon emissions and by reducing the amount of renewables power required to reach net zero.
Held an additional early community engagement event in Balnain, which was attended by over 60 local residents.