The UK government has given the green light to Snowdonia Pumped Hydro’s 99.9MW Glyn Rhonwy scheme near Llanberis in North Wales.
The company said construction could start as early as 2018 supporting hundreds of jobs and creating up to 30 full-time positions once the facility is operational.
The project will use surplus electricity to pump water through an underground tunnel from the lower to the upper reservoir, Snowdonia Pumped Hydro said.
When lack of wind or solar reduces renewable power output, or when fossil fuel generators fail to start, the water will flow back down the tunnel, spinning a turbine in an underground chamber to regenerate the stored electricity, it added.
Snowdonia Pumped Hydro managing director Dave Holmes said: “We see the grant of permission for our Glyn Rhonwy scheme as highly significant, signalling a real change that will enable the UK to meet carbon reduction targets, while keeping electricity supply secure and prices for consumers under control.”
Image: QBC
