We’ve been hearing about solar power plants, wind turbines, and the promise of revolutionary batteries for a long time. But when it comes to storing large amounts of energy for long periods, solutions still seem distant or too expensive. That’s about to change; a silent, carbon-free solution capable of powering more than a million homes for nearly a full day is already on the drawing board. The project aims to build a giant “reversible battery” between two lakes in a nearly deserted mountainous region of the United Kingdom.
The promise of a natural battery with 22 hours of autonomy
Some say the name of this project is almost poetic: Earba Pumped Storage Hydro. It has 1.8 GW of power and 40 GWh of storage capacity, and the focus here is for this plant to operate as a gigantic natural battery. Essentially, when there is excess renewable generation, primarily from wind, the system will pump water from a lower lake to an upper reservoir. Now, when it’s needed to supply the grid, this water flows back down, generating electricity by driving underground turbines.
The magic of it all is its autonomy, as the system can operate for 22 hours straight at full capacity. This is equivalent to powering 1.4 million homes for an entire day. All this without relying on natural gas, burning coal, or emitting CO₂. And best of all, this technology isn’t new. It’s reliable, safe, and durable, but for years, it was forgotten amid the hype of more “visual” technologies. With the push for long-duration solutions and the growth of offshore wind energy, old-school hydropower engineering is getting a new lease on life.
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The chosen location for this energy feat is Loch Earba, in the Central Highlands of Scotland (once again, the UK is leading the way in the energy race, just as it did when it produced the first “green gas”). It’s one of the UK’s most remote and wildest spots. And it’s no coincidence that the Scots themselves often refer to the region as the “end of the world.” This is because it’s a place where time seems to slow down, but which will now be the site of a silent and giant technological leap.
The combination of geology, rugged topography, and large bodies of water makes the region a perfect setting for this type of project. But it’s not just a technical issue. The choice also represents a symbolic milestone. This is because it’s a place that has often been overlooked, and now it’s become a symbol of the country’s energy transition, a reminder that the paths to the future aren’t always where we expect.
“As the UK energy system shifts from being dominated by dispatchable thermal generation to one driven by intermittent renewables, the need for energy storage is increasing significantly,” said Gilkes Energy’s managing director Carl Crompton.
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Speaking of the plans, the plant’s construction is expected to take six to seven years, generating approximately 500 direct jobs in engineering, construction, and project management. This demonstrates the significant local economic impact. Instead of large urban centers, the investment will go directly to remote communities.
Not stopping there, there’s a strategic factor that cannot be ignored: energy storage reduces gas costs and prevents wasted wind energy on windy days when the grid can’t absorb it all. In other words, there’s less wasted money and potentially lower electricity bills in the long run. This project even reminds us of when Japan inaugurated its first Typhoonturbine, which promises to supply the country with energy for 50 years.
