Exploratory ground works have commenced at the site of what is poised to become the UK's initial pumped storage scheme developed in 40 years, located on the slopes of Ben Cruachan, near Oban in Scotland.
Drax is advancing plans to construct a new 600MW underground plant adjacent to its existing Cruachan facility.
Seismic surveys are presently underway to furnish vital geological insights into the rock strata that would house the new facility. The methodology entails drilling holes into the rock and deploying small explosive charges, generating potent sound waves.
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Steve Marshall, Development Manager at Drax, remarked, “The expansion of Cruachan will be one of the most significant engineering projects in Scotland for many decades. The start of these seismic surveys of the mountain is a real milestone moment for the project and everyone at Drax is excited to see the development take another step forward.”
The surveys aim to complement prior borehole drilling activities conducted in 2022 and 2023 at the site. With the project securing development consent from the Scottish government, hopes are pinned on the forthcoming UK government to sustain policy momentum in this domain, facilitating the integration of a new wave of pumped storage plants into the national grid.
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“Expanding Cruachan will strengthen the UK's energy security by enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to come online to power homes and businesses across the country,” Marshall added.
The initiative is poised to fortify the nation's energy security while aiding its decarbonization efforts, with pumped storage hydro capacity expansion playing a pivotal role in enabling the integration of additional renewable power sources.
