Renewable energy company Drax has appointed Voith Hydro to advance its plans for the UK’s first pumped storage hydro scheme in 40 years. The 600MW underground plant is set to be constructed near Drax’s existing Cruachan facility in Scotland.
Exploratory ground works and seismic surveys are currently underway to gather geological data for the project. Voith Hydro will complete a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study for the mechanical and electrical components. This study will produce detailed reports, data, and models to define the project scope, design, cost estimate, and schedule.
This partnership marks a significant step forward for Drax, leveraging Voith’s expertise to optimize the new Cruachan power station’s design. While the project received development consent from the Scottish Government last year, further progression depends on updated policy and market support from the UK Government. A new framework could unlock significant private investment in the technology.
Steve Marshall, Drax’s Development Manager, stated: “A new generation of pumped storage hydro plants will strengthen the UK’s energy security by enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to come online to power homes and businesses across the country. Drax’s plan to build a new plant at Cruachan will support hundreds of jobs and provide a real boost to the Scottish economy.”
Marshall added: “With the project granted development consent from the Scottish Government, we hope the next UK Government will continue policy development in this area at pace to enable a new generation of pumped storage plants to come online as possible.”
Stefan Linhart, Project Manager at Voith Hydro, added: “We at Voith Hydro are highly committed to the Cruachan 2 project and feel honoured to have been nominated by Drax for the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). As a full-line supplier for hydropower technology we are looking forward to bringing our extensive experience in the field of pumped storage. The constructive and professional collaboration with Drax and other project partners is key to achieve our common goal: a power plant that meets the latest standards in performance and safety.”
Increasing the UK’s pumped storage hydro capacity is vital for integrating more renewable power, strengthening energy security, and aiding decarbonisation. Alongside the new plant, Drax is completing an £80 million upgrade to the existing Cruachan facility, boosting its generating capacity by 40MW to a total of 480MW.
