SSE‘s proposed Coire Glas hydropower project has been awarded the prestigious IHA Blue Planet Prize 2025 in the pumped storage category.
The award was presented earlier this week in Paris at the International Forum on Pumped Storage, with global leaders from government, industry, financial, and civil society in attendance.
Located on Loch Lochy in the Highlands and developed by SSE Renewables, the proposed Coire Glas project would be the UK’s largest long-duration energy storage facility if approved for delivery, with the potential to store around 30 GWh of renewable energy capacity.
SSE said it believes Coire Glas could be delivering flexibility to the UK’s energy system in the early 2030s, subject to the delivery of an investable government support scheme that enables a final investment decision by the company.
Coire Glas recently became the first pumped storage hydropower project in the world to achieve Gold certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. This followed a preparation stage assessment that found strong performance in labour and safety standards, governance, and stakeholder consultation.
The project also stood out for its careful planning of environmental and cultural heritage impacts, with detailed strategies for water and sediment management, biodiversity and local community engagement.
Mike Seaton, Coire Glas project director, said, “We’re extremely proud our Coire Glas project has been awarded the IHA Blue Planet Prize 2025 for pumped storage. Our entire project team and contractors have dedicated themselves to building sustainability into every stage of the planning for this world-class project, including environmental and social outcomes. This has resulted in Coire Glas becoming the first pumped storage hydropower project in the world to be Gold certified under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
“Although an investable policy mechanism is still needed for the project to progress to FID, Coire Glas can play a crucial role in meeting UK and Scottish Net Zero targets. This award demonstrates that vital energy infrastructure can be developed with sustainability at its core and is testament to the shared diligence and dedication of our team and contractors in doing the right thing by people and the planet in every stage of the project’s design.”
Eddie Rich, CEO of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), added, “Coire Glas shows what can be achieved when a project is planned and managed over time with a focus on doing things the right way. SSE has taken care to embed sustainability into the project from the very earliest stages, consulting thoroughly and planning for environmental and social impacts. This award recognises the leadership and dedication needed to deliver pumped storage responsibly and ensure it plays a fundamental role in the clean and secure energy transition.”
