SSE Coire Glas hydro project could generate £1.5 billion for UK

A proposed 1.44GW pumped storage hydro project in the Scottish Highlands, known as Coire Glas, could generate £1.5 billion in economic value for the UK, according to an independent study by BiGGAR Economics.

The project, located in the Great Glen between Fort William and Inverness, is estimated to support nearly 3,000 construction jobs at its peak. In Scotland specifically, the scheme could create 1,180 construction jobs and deliver £1.35 billion in spending with Scottish businesses. Once operational, the facility would provide 45GWh of long-duration energy storage, capable of powering nearly five million homes for 30 hours.

SSE has already invested over £100 million in the project, including an exploratory tunnel. However, the project's progression depends on securing an investable outcome through Ofgem’s Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) cap and floor framework. SSE noted that detailed arrangements must be resolved before the large-scale infrastructure project can move forward.