Highland councillors oppose hydro project on Loch Ness

BBC News

4 hours ago

Councillors have objected to plans for a new hydro scheme that would draw water from Loch Ness to generate electricity.Statera Energy's pumped storage hydro project would involve constructing a power station and tunnels at Loch Kemp near Whitebridge, about 10 miles (16km) north of Fort Augustus.The Scottish government, which has a say on whether it eventually goes ahead or not, has consulted Highland Council on the proposals.The local authority's south planning applications voted 8-2 in favour of a motion opposing the project due to a number of concerns, including impacts on wildlife and tourism.
Highland Council officials had recommended councillors raised no objection.Statera Energy has been approached for comment.
Aird and Loch Ness councillor Chris Ballance, who put forward the motion, said ancient woodlands along the loch's shores could be adversely affected by changes in water level.He said wildlife, such as otters, and the "special qualities" of Loch Ness could be put at risk.Mr Ballance also argued that a tourism impact assessment had not been carried out, and his motion also raised concerns about construction traffic on local roads.Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban tabled an amendment supporting the officials' recommendation. The amendment was defeated in the vote.Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, which opposes new pumped storage hydro on Loch Ness, welcomed the committee's decision.Director Brian Shaw said: "This was absolutely the right decision. "The councillors rejected out of hand the planning officer's conclusion that this was the 'right development in the right place'."
What is pumped storage hydro?
Pumped storage hydro involves two bodies of water at different heights.The water flows from one to the other through tunnels, passing through a power station to generate electricity.When there is low demand for electricity from consumers and/or when surplus power is available from wind farms, electricity is used to pump water from the lower level to fill a reservoir further up the hill.The water can then be released from the upper reservoir, flowing down the tunnels to drive turbines which generate hydro-electricity. This happens at times of high demand, or when there is not enough wind to power wind farms.Loch Kemp Storage Ltd, which is owned by Statera Energy, has proposed damming Loch Kemp, the upper reservoir of its scheme, to raise water levels.It also plans to construct an underground waterway systems and tunnels, and powerhouse on the shores of Loch Ness.
The south planning applications committee granted consent for a separate electricity-related project.It approved plans SSEN Transmission's plans to replace three 1960s-built substations at Deanie and Culligran in Glen Strathfarrar, and at Kilmorack.