Pumped Storage Hydro

Fugro wins ground investigation contract for Coire Glas pumped storage

Fugro wins ground investigation contract for Coire Glas pumped storage
(Coire Glas pumped storage project)

Fugro announced it has received a ground investigation contract from SSE Renewables for its 1.5 GW Coire Glas hydro pumped storage scheme in Scotland.

Located on the shores of Loch Lochy, between Fort William and Inverness, the Coire Glas project is expected to require a capital investment of over £1.5 billion (US$1.8 billion) to construct and, if approved for final delivery, would be the first pumped hydro storage scheme to be built in the UK in 40 years.

The results from Fugro’s investigation will be used to understand the current site conditions and assess potential ground risks associated with future developmental phases of the scheme.

Extensive site characterization will take place between Loch Lochy, the lower reservoir, and the new upper reservoir site, about 500 m above in Coire Glas. Work will include deep rotary cored holes, specialist in situ testing, surface and wireline geophysics, as well as advanced laboratory testing on rock samples. Given the remote location, high elevation and challenging weather conditions, Fugro will use specialized all-terrain vehicles and helicopters to access the site and transport equipment.

Once testing is complete, Fugro will deliver a comprehensive report on ground and ground water conditions, which will allow SSE Renewables to refine proposed project designs.

All geotechnical data will be managed through VirGeo®, Fugro’s cloud-based geo-data engagement platform, providing near real-time deliverables to SSE Renewables and its consulting engineers.

“We take great pride in providing high-quality, integrated geo-data solutions that encompass geotechnical and geophysical investigations, advanced testing, and detailed reporting,” said Matthew Chappell, Fugro’s Service Line Director of Site Investigation UK. “As pumped hydro storage will play a crucial role in the decarbonization of the UK’s electricity supply, we are committed to collaborating with SSE Renewables to … ensure the safe engineering of this critical asset.”

Recently, SSE Renewables announced that it was to make a £100 million ($122.7 million) investment to see the Coire Glas project progress as the first large-scale pumped storage scheme to be developed in the UK for more than 40 years.

The delivery of Coire Glas is at the heart of SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme, or NZAP, which commits to investing around £7 million ($8.6 million) a day on critical low-carbon infrastructure needed in the net zero transition.