Drax, a leading renewable energy company, has partnered with renowned hydro engineering consultants COWI and PINI to advance the development of a new 600 MW pumped storage hydro power station at its Cruachan facility in Scotland.

This ambitious project aims to significantly expand Cruachan's current capacity, effectively doubling its total generation to over 1 GW. The new power station, built adjacent to the existing underground plant, will play a crucial role in strengthening the UK's energy security and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future.

Pumped storage hydro technology offers a flexible and efficient solution for storing excess renewable energy. By pumping water to a higher reservoir during periods of low demand and releasing it to generate electricity when needed, these plants provide essential grid balancing services.

COWI and PINI will contribute their expertise in civil, marine, geotechnical, mechanical, and electrical engineering to support the project's Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase. Their extensive experience in hydro development will be instrumental in optimising the design and construction of the new power station.

Steve Marshall, Drax's Development Manager for the Cruachan Expansion project, said: "We are delighted to welcome two world-leading engineering consultancies to our project, helping us move forward with the new power station's design.

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"A new generation of pumped storage hydro plants will strengthen the UK's energy security through enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to come online, cutting the need to import power or fossil fuels from abroad.

"Projects such as Drax's will not only be good for the grid, but it will also offer fantastic opportunities for local communities and businesses. Expanding Cruachan will be a major infrastructure project which will create jobs and provide a real boost to Scotland's economy."

During the construction phase, the expansion of Cruachan is expected to support around 1,100 jobs across the UK and contribute a potential £470m to the economy. It would be one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Scotland in a generation.

Andy Sloan, Managing Director, COWI in the UK, said: "COWI is thrilled to support Drax on this vital project and continue to play a key role in the revival of pumped storage in Scotland. This project allows us to apply our expertise in rock mechanics and tunnel engineering to a renewable energy initiative.

"Hydroelectric developments offer tremendous potential for addressing long-term energy storage needs, paving our way to a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come."

Pierluigi Nionelli, Head of Business Line Hydropower, PINI Group, said: "The expansion of Cruachan will make a crucial contribution to the energy transition process in Scotland. Our Hydropower Business Line is dedicated to developing cutting-edge solutions for the sector on a daily basis.

"We are therefore truly honored to be able to transfer our know-how and skills, developed over the years across Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania, to a project like Cruachan."

The appointment of the joint venture comes just a few weeks after the UK Government confirmed it would be moving ahead with a new investment framework to support long duration electricity storage technologies, including pumped storage hydro.

In addition to the proposed construction of a new plant, Drax is currently progressing an £80 million major refurbishment of its existing Cruachan site. The refurbishment will see original parts replaced and the generating capacity of the power station upgraded from 440 MW to 480 MW.