TELE POSTBAG

‘Inverclyde can benefit from hydro pump storage’

CURRENTLY I feel that we are complicating the simple fact that we have so many ‘hydro’ systems and only using three per cent of the possible storage of wind farm power.

There are 54 hydro schemes and only four hydro pump storage systems in operation or construction.

We should speed this up by converting those hydro systems that are suitable to hydro pump storage. Loch Sloy, pictured, is a perfect example.

I believe we should investigate the possible conversion of Loch Sloy from hydro to hydro pump storage. Weir pumps may be interested in projects to convert hydro to hydro pump storage.

“Cruachan” is doubling its output over the next ten years. There is an obvious case to short cut the process by taking the Sloy Dam and hydro operation and adding a pump. Inverclyde could benefit from a similar scheme.

We have the rain! The potential for the UK is tremendous but as some people want short term profit we have to look at the long term benefits and make sure that these are being catered for.

The advent of ‘wind power’ is a ‘game changer’. The United Kingdom must take full advantage of the new game.