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Statkraft supporting UHI on skills report for Scottish pumped storage project

Statkraft supporting UHI on skills report for Scottish pumped storage project
(Scotland to be site of potential third pumped storage project developed by ILI Group)

European renewable energy generator Statkraft announced it will provide support to the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in gaining insight into the education and skills requirements for training a local workforce to help build the Loch na Cathrach (formerly Red John) pumped storage hydro project.

The new project name, Loch na Cathrach, will “better reflect the history of the area,” according to a release. The 450 MW scheme, conceived in 2015, was granted consent by Scottish Government ministers in June 2021. This project, located 14 km southwest of Inverness, will capture excess renewable energy and store it until needed, providing security of supply as Great Britain’s electricity network shifts away from fossil fuels.

Funding from Statkraft will enable UHI to develop an accurate picture of the numbers and types of roles required to construct the project. It is intended that this report will benefit everyone who lives and works in the region and will help to inform senior pupils and UHI students, as they look to the future and decide their career pathways. It will also provide those in employment with a picture of where the upskilling and reskilling opportunities exist.

It is hoped that the report will allow existing local businesses to gain visibility of the construction pipeline and help those who might see an opportunity to expand, or start new businesses, to meet the increased demand a significant project like this will bring, according to a release.

The study will also inform education delivery across the region. By evaluating the scale and composition of the local student population, UHI can begin to map education provision across the board, relevant to the project’s timings and the required skills and qualifications needed to fill core roles.

Through identifying gaps between the skills offered by the current workforce and those required to deliver the Loch na Cathrach project, the report will provide early recommendations for addressing identified gaps through education, training and strategic partnerships. It is intended that work on the study will begin in spring, with a final report published by UHI in the summer.

“This report will provide an essential picture of the skills required to build Statkraft’s most significant project in Scotland,” said Iain Robertson, Head of Statkraft Scotland. “I’m delighted we’re able to build on our existing relationship with UHI to help them deliver this important piece of work, which will benefit students, businesses, and communities alike.”

Statkraft was founded in Norway more than 125 years ago and is the largest producer of electricity from hydropower in Europe. The company has a number of pumped storage plants in operation in Norway and Germany, alongside over 350 other hydropower plants. Statkraft has a strong presence in Scotland, including a headquarters in Glasgow.