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Written question asked by Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 8 September 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 September 2025. It was answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Labour) on Monday, 22 September 2025 on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.


Hydroelectric Power: Storage

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand the number and capacity of hydroelectric pump storage facilities in (1) Wales, (2) England, and (3) Scotland; how many such facilities have been approved and are under construction; and how many are awaiting planning approval.

Answer

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets an ambition of 4-6GW of long duration electricity storage (LDES) capacity, which includes pumped storage hydropower (PSH), by 2030. This is being enabled through an LDES cap and floor investment support scheme, which government announced in October 2024 and is being delivered by Ofgem. It is open to projects from all parts of Great Britain.

The British Hydro Association maintains a list of PSH projects under development in Great Britain at the following link: https://british-hydro.org/pumped-storage-hydropower/.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL10330
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Construction Storage Hydroelectric power
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk