SSE’s Coire Glas Hydropower Project, situated on Scotland’s Loch Lochy, has gained Gold certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), becoming the world’s first pumped storage hydropower project to achieve this recognition.
If approved for delivery, the Coire Glas Hydropower project would be the United Kingdom’s largest Long Duration Energy Storage facility, with the ability to hold around 30 GWh of renewable energy. SSE envisions the project delivering significant flexibility to the UK energy system in the early 2030s, contingent on the establishment of an investable government support scheme that would allow the company to take a final investment decision.
A review carried out during the preparation phase of the project earlier this year identified SSE Renewables’ strong sustainability performance. The primary areas of excellence were in labour and safety standards, proactive stakeholder engagement, and governance practices.
The project also received appreciation for its planning regarding environmental and social outcomes. This includes meticulous strategies for water and sediment management, preservation of biodiversity, and safeguarding of cultural heritage across the project area.
João Costa, Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, commented: “Pumped storage is essential to a resilient, renewable-powered grid, and Coire Glas is showing that large-scale projects can be designed with sustainability built in from the beginning. It’s exciting to see the Hydropower Sustainability Standard being used to shape one of the UK’s most ambitious energy projects.”
Mike Seaton, Coire Glas Project Director, added: “Attaining Gold certification is a testament to the diligence and dedication of the Coire Glas project team. It also reflects the positive contribution of the contractors who worked with us on the project to date.
“While there is still a way to go to ensure there is an investable policy mechanism to support it, Coire Glas has a crucial role to play in helping the UK and Scottish Governments meet their Net Zero targets. We are delighted to demonstrate that developments of this type can be developed with a focus on sustainability.”
With its Gold Hydropower Sustainability Standard certification, Coire Glas is positioned to play a pivotal role in supporting climate resilience and advancing the UK’s net-zero ambitions.