Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has begun consultations to develop a 600MW hydro electric power plant on the shores of Loch Ness in Scotland.
SSE proposes to build a pumped storage scheme on the Balmacaan Estate between Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit.
The plan also includes construction of a dam and a new reservoir at Loch nam Breac Dearga, north-east of Invermoriston, according to Inverness-courier.co.uk.
Water from Loch Ness would be pumped up to the higher loch and then discharged to drive turbines.
Scotland’s largest pumped storage station at present is a 440MW facility at Cruachan in Argyll.
The project is in the early stages and opinions are being sought from local community councils and organisations.
If the plans get the go-ahead construction of the plant is expected to take two to three years.
