Drax, a renewable energy provider in the UK, is set to invest £80 million in a significant refurbishment of its Cruachan pumped storage hydro power station located in Scotland. The refurbishment project, named ‘Hollow Mountain', aims to increase the station's capacity from 440MW to 480MW, reinforcing its role in supporting the country's energy security.
Andritz, a global hydropower technology supplier, has been appointed as the main contractor for the upgrade project. Andritz Hydro, with over 180 years of experience, is renowned for supplying electromechanical equipment and services for hydropower stations worldwide.
Penny Small, Interim Chief Operating Officer at Drax, highlighted the importance of pumped storage hydro in the UK's energy landscape, stating, “Pumped storage hydro is vital to the UK's energy security, it's a technology which works in partnership with renewables.”
Small emphasized the critical role of pumped storage hydro facilities in balancing supply and demand within the electricity system, stating, “When wind turbines are generating more power than we need, Cruachan steps in to store the renewable electricity so it doesn't go to waste.”
The refurbishment project will focus on increasing the generating capacity of two of the plant's units, which were commissioned in 1965. Drax's investment is supported by a 15-year capacity market agreement worth approximately £221 million, demonstrating the company's commitment to enhancing energy system resilience.
Andritz Hydro's Managing Director, Dominik Fust, expressed pride in the company's involvement in the project, stating, “We are proud to have been entrusted with the refurbishment of the Cruachan Pump Storage Power Plant. This project aligns with our mission to contribute to the global transition toward sustainable energy generation.”
The upgrade to the Cruachan power station comes as a separate initiative from Drax's plan to construct a new 600MW pumped storage power station adjacent to the existing facility. This ambitious project is expected to create and support up to 1100 jobs, according to estimates by Scottish Renewables, a prominent trade body in the renewable energy sector.
