Drax submits plans for new hydro power station at Scottish plant

North Yorkshire energy company and power station operator Drax Group has submitted plans for a new underground pumped storage hydro power station that would more than double the electricity generating capacity at a facility in Scotland.The development at the ‘Hollow Mountain’ Cruachan Power Station could be the first newly constructed plant of its kind in the UK in more than 40 years. It would support UK energy security, reduce energy costs, and help cut carbon emissions by enabling more renewable power to be used by homes and businesses.The up to 600MW power station would be located inside Ben Cruachan – Argyll’s highest mountain – and increase the site’s total capacity to 1.04GW.The plant would be housed within a new, hollowed-out cavern, which would be large enough to fit Big Ben on its side. About two million tonnes of rock will be excavated to create the cavern, tunnels, and other parts of the power station.The project would support about 900 jobs during six years of construction across the supply chain in industries from quarrying and engineering, to transport and hospitality. About 150 on-site construction jobs would be created during the development.The new power station could be operational as soon as 2030, with construction work targeted to begin in 2024.Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s Scottish assets director, said: “Drax’s plan to expand Cruachan will strengthen the UK’s energy security by enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to come online to power homes and businesses across the country, helping to end our reliance on imports and cut costs.”This major infrastructure project will support hundreds of jobs and provide a real boost to the Scottish economy. Only by investing in long-duration storage technologies can the UK reach its full renewable potential, and Drax is ready to move mountains to do just that.”