Question reference: S5W-25285
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 September 2019
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 September 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the proposed benefits of the expansion of pumped storage hydro at Cruachan in relation to securing flexibility and storage capacity for Scotland's energy mix.
Answer
The Scottish Government co-authored a report, in partnership with Scottish Renewables, that details the benefits of pumped storage hydro. This report can be found here: https://www.scottishrenewables.com/publications/benefits-pumped-storage-hydro-uk/ .
The report aims to push the need for a route to market, especially to UK Government, so far, without success.
While we cannot comment on the specifics of the proposed expansion of Cruachan, pumped storage hydro is one of the best proven technologies available at scale to provide the required flexibility our electricity system requires.
Pumped storage hydro can provide a wide range of benefits, including, reliable energy storage, alleviating congestion cost and economical security of supply. The Scottish Government supports its continued development as we transition into a low-carbon energy future.