Councillors raise an objection to major hydro project

Highland councillors have decided to raise an objection to plans for a major hydro-electric project at Loch Quoich near Invergarry.

Fearna PSH Ltd proposes repurposing a 1950s-built hydro scheme as a pumped storage hydro (PSH) facility.

In a report, council officials said there were concerns about the development's impact on the mountain landscape and its wildlife, as well as rural roads due to construction traffic.

The developer said the decision was "disappointing". The Scottish government has the final say on the project.

Local community councils, Mountaineering Scotland and RSPB Scotland have also raised concerns.

The Scottish government asked Highland Council for its position on the project.

The local authority's south planning applications committee discussed the proposals on Wednesday.

In a report, officials said there were not sufficient plans to "reasonably mitigate" the scheme's effects on wildlife and geological features of special interest.

They also said there would be "significant adverse effects" on protected areas, including the Moidart, Morar and Glen Shiel Special Landscape Area.

Councillors were advised to raise an objection.

The developer said the scheme had been "carefully and sensitively" designed, and included an "ambitious" biodiversity enhancement programme.

A spokesperson said: "Given the project's strategic importance and its capacity to deliver critical long-duration energy storage at a national scale, while also creating significant regional economic opportunities, it is disappointing that council members chose to decide against it.

"However, the final decision on consent will rest with the Scottish ministers and we remain committed to progressing the project and bringing it to fruition."

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.