Drax has broken ground on preliminary works for its planned 600MW pumper hydrogen project in Scotland.
Exploratory ground investigations are now underway at Drax’s existing Cruachan facility, where the company plans to build a new underground plant.
A 70 metre deep borehole is being drilled to recover rock core which will be analysed in a lab to determine structural and geological stability for elements of the new plant.
The preliminary works are being carried out whilst the project awaits consent from the Scottish Government alongside an updated policy and market support mechanism from the UK Government.
Increasing the UK’s pumped storage hydro capacity is critical to enabling more renewable power to come online, strengthening the country’s energy security whilst helping Britain decarbonise.
Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s Scottish Assets Director, said: “This is a significant moment in the expansion of Cruachan. The project team has been working extremely hard to move the development forward, and the start of ground investigation works is the next phase in delivering this vitally important new plant.
“The scale of the proposed development matches Drax’s ambitions when it comes to tackling the climate crisis.
“More than two million tonnes of rock will be excavated to create a new cavern inside the mountain which will be big enough to house Big Ben on its side.
“Expanding Cruachan will strengthen the UK’s energy security by enabling more homegrown renewable electricity to come online to power homes and businesses across the country. This major infrastructure project will support hundreds of jobs and provide a real boost to the Scottish economy.”
Drax expects the plant to come online in 2030 following a six-year period of construction and an investment of around £500m.
Drax must secure consent from the Scottish Government alongside an updated policy and market support mechanism from the UK Government.