Balliemeanoch Pumped Storage Hydro

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File:Lochan Airish and Loch Awe topography.png

File:Lochan Airigh - geograph.org.uk - 1934795.jpg

Balliemeanoch Pumped Storage Hydro is a proposed pumped storage hydro (PSH) scheme in the Scottish Highlands.

{{cite web |author1=Alice Grundy |title=ILI Group to develop 1.5GW pumped storage hydro project |url=https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/ili_group_to_develop_1-5gw_pumped_storage_hydro_project/ |website=News |publisher=Solar Power Portal |access-date=12 September 2024 |date=February 8, 2022}}

{{cite web |author1=Biggar Economics |title=The Economic Impact of Pumped Storage Hydro |url=https://www.scottishrenewables.com/assets/000/003/039/The_Economic_Impact_of_Pumped_Storage_Hydro_original.pdf |website=Scottish Renewables |publisher=Scottish renewables |access-date=12 September 2024 |date=May 2023}}

{{cite web |author1=AECOM |title=Balliemeanoch Pumped Storage Hydro Scoping Report |url=https://balliemeanochpsh.co.uk/Balliemeanoch_Scoping_Report.pdf |website=Balliemeanoch Pump Storage Hydro Scheme |access-date=29 September 2024 |date=7 February 2022}}

If built, the project will be the largest pumped-hydro scheme in Scotland, storing 45GWh of energy, equating to 30 hours of generation at the maximum capacity of 1.5GW.

Like the nearby Cruachan Power Station, the project would use the 40km long Loch Awe as the lower reservoir.

In the hills to the East a small mountain lake, Lochan Airigh, lies in a wide valley at approximately 360m above Ordnance Datum (AOD), 9km northwest of Inveraray and 3km east of the village of Balliemeanoch.

The upper reservoir would be created by damming the valley. The proposed dam would be 1500m long and 110m high at its tallest point.

When full the reservoir would be approximately a mile across. The water level, at an elevation of 425m AOD, would be 65m above the current level of Lochan Airigh. The working volume, of up to 58 million m³,{{rp|page 15}} corresponds to a 1.5 metre change in the water level of the 38km² {{rp|p=68}} Loch Awe.

Surplus electricity from the national grid would be stored by pumping water from Loch Awe up to Lochan Airigh, to be used as required.