SSE has submitted plans to the Scottish Government to convert the existing Sloy Power Station into a 100-megawatt (MW) pumped storage hydro scheme, located on the banks of Loch Lomond.
The proposed project would repurpose the iconic Sloy Power Station, a conventional hydro power plant, to provide up to 16 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of long-duration electricity storage capacity. SSE Renewables has filed a Section 36 planning application with Scottish Government ministers to convert the station, which has been operational since 1950, into a pumped storage facility with a pumping capacity of up to 100MW.
If approved, the conversion of the Sloy scheme could help provide flexible, renewable energy, storing electricity for up to 100 hours of non-stop output. SSE aims to make a final investment decision by late 2027 and hopes to complete the conversion by the end of 2030.
As part of the plans, SSE Renewables also proposes to upgrade the existing 32.5MW G4 turbine at the Sloy station, boosting its generating output by 7.5MW to a total of 160MW. The conversion process is expected to support up to 70 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs during the design, development, and construction phases, contributing to the local economy.
A dedicated community benefit fund will also be established, alongside the £10 million Hydro Community Fund recently launched by SSE.
Robert Bryce, Director of Hydro at SSE Renewables, commented: “The proposed pumped storage hydro scheme will play an important role in the UK Government’s Clean Power by 2030 ambitions, providing firm, flexible renewable energy for up to 100 hours non-stop at the flick of a switch.” Bryce added, “The new proposals will ensure this remains an important asset for decades to come.”
Sloy Power Station is the largest conventional hydro power plant in Britain and has been a key component of the country’s energy system for over seven decades.
