The Scottish Government has approved planning permission for a hydroelectric pumped storage generating station at Coire Glas, near Spean Bridge.

The pump storage station, which will be developed by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), will consist of a dam and reservoir at Loch a 'Choire Ghlais, an underground cavern power station and underground tunnel system and an outlet area on the shore of Loch Lochy.

With a generating capacity of up to 600MW, the station development will also have an energy storage capacity of up to 30GWh.

Making the announcement, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "The construction programme for the Coire Glas development is expected to last five to six years and during this time it is estimated 150 jobs will be created.

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"This development will bring many benefits to local trades being involved at various stages throughout the project. There will also be some indirect jobs resulting from the supply of goods, materials and services for construction.

"With a huge 600MW generating capacity, this scheme will be by far the most powerful of its kind in Scotland. Whilst generating it will have the potential to provide up to 10% of Scotland's estimated peak electricity demand.

"Energy storage has a key role to play as part of a balanced electricity mix in supporting security of supply requirements. Pumped storage stations can provide a valuable responsive supply to maintain the stability of the grid and help integrate renewable generating technologies."

He continued: "A development like this offers a fantastic boost to the ambitions of the Scottish Government to increase the proportion of electricity generated using renewable resources because it helps deal with the variability of renewables.

"When the wind blows, excess energy can be used to pump water up into the vast store, and when the wind yield is low the station can be brought on line to provide the electricity needed.

"This is precisely the kind of development and capacity which the UK Government's electricity market reforms must be designed to provide sufficient support."

(JP/MH)