Highlands Rewilding objects to the Glen Earrach hydro scheme
Highlands Rewilding has lodged a formal objection to the proposed Glen Earrach pumped-storage hydro scheme at Loch Ness.
We have raised serious concerns about the impact of Loch Ness becoming artificially tidal. The Glen Earrach project, along with one existing scheme (Foyers Pumped storage hydropower scheme) and two others consented/proposed, will be moving huge volumes of water, causing regular fluctuations of over half a metre.* This could cause potentially devastating biodiversity loss across the loch, and our objection highlights under-sampling in the developer’s surveys, evidence from eDNA of wider invertebrate communities, and potential impacts on blanket bog, ancient woodland and Loch nam Breac Dearga.
The project also has larger national implications: “Scotland’s path to net-zero must not come at the expense of its greatest natural treasures. This stands out as exemplifying a UK energy policy favouring big engineering over efficiency and distributed renewables”, Dr Jeremy Leggett, Highlands Rewilding’s founder, and solar renewables entrepreneur.
*It’s hard to get the exact figures for daily depth fluctuations but, cumulatively (all current and proposed PSH schemes), the daily fluctuation could be between 0.7 to 1.5 metres. Glen Earrach Energy is the company proposing the Glen Earrach pump storage project and the above fluctuation estimates are based on Glen Earrach Energy’s own data. You can look at that data here.
Watch a short video from Co-chief Scientist, Dr Penelope Whitehorn, from the banks of Loch Ness
Useful Links and more information:
Our press release, which contains links to our full objection and sources.
You can find the Glen Earrach Project’s information, additional information, consultation responses, objections and more here.
Glen Earrach’s website is here, with a section containing planning application documents.
Media coverage of Highlands Rewilding’s objection:
Article in the Inverness Courier: Highland rewilding company is latest to object to Glen Earrach Loch Ness hydro scheme
Article in The Times: Loch Ness hydropower project ‘gives renewable energy a bad name’ (behind paywall).