Encouraged by a must-attend event
The Scotsman’s Highlands and Islands Green Energy Conference has become a must-attend event. The region is at the forefront of Scotland’s transition to cleaner and more secure forms of energy generation, with a huge number of projects in the pipeline.
I was proud to be there to represent Statkraft, and speak as part of a panel discussion on building a local workforce for the energy transition.
Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy. With a longstanding UK presence, we are committed to developing clean energy sources across the UK, and realising the opportunities that major infrastructure projects can bring.
The Loch na Cathrach Pumped Storage Hydro scheme – originally called “Red John” – was first conceived in 2015 and granted consent by Scottish Government ministers in June 2021. Statkraft acquired the project in late 2023.
Pumped storage hydropower provides long-duration electricity storage and is effectively a very large water battery, utilising excess wind and solar power to pump water to the top of the reservoir when demand for power is low, then releasing it and generating power when it is needed.
As a technology it has been around for a very long time, with the four pumped storage schemes operational in the UK each running for between 40 and 60 years.
It is experiencing a renaissance because of the way it can complement renewables like wind and solar, and we’re going to see it play an increasing role in providing grid stability and supporting greater integration of renewables.
Loch na Cathrach is a flagship scheme for Statkraft in the UK in terms of its scale and the financial investment required.
As one of the first to be delivered, I feel we have a responsibility and duty to lead by example, collaborating with our communities, fellow developers, and the key local stakeholders.
That’s why we announced last year that Statkraft would provide funding support to the University of the Highlands and Islands, for a report into the education and skills requirements to help build our project, enabling us to secure the required skills, and allowing local communities to benefit from employment and training opportunities.
That means a lot to me personally. I was born in Inverness, and grew up in Aviemore. I went south for education and work, but eventually job opportunities became available here, which meant I could come home.
Projects such as Loch na Cathrach mean that more and more people will be able to live and work locally if they wish to do so.
These opportunities aren’t a vague promise. They exist here and now, including for people like my son, who has secured an apprenticeship scheme with an energy firm.
Loch na Cathrach requires a skilled workforce for both construction and long-term operation – it will employ up to 500 people on site.
Statkraft’s projections point to 60 per cent of those construction roles being either skilled or semi-skilled, including in civil engineering and tunnel engineering.
Additionally, there will be more than 120 people employed in non-construction positions such as health and safety, accountancy, and other support roles.
If the education providers can offer the relevant courses and training, then the hope would be for as many of these jobs to go to local people as possible.
Pending a final investment decision, we would expect the project to start construction during 2026. We have a live tenders for contractors, including for civil engineering, electrical and mechanical work, and for hydraulic steelwork. Once selected, these companies will be introduced to the local supply chain, to maximise the opportunities for local companies.
Both directly and indirectly, Loch na Cathrach will make a major contribution to supporting local jobs. I want Statkraft to work with industry competitors in what I call “co-opetition” – collaborating in order to develop the pool of available labour and skills, for the mutual benefit of a range of projects.
We need to transition to cleaner forms of energy, and we need large scale developments like Loch na Cathrach to make that happen. A scheme like this will support hundreds of jobs during its construction period, and good, skilled jobs once operational.
Once up and running, Loch na Cathrach will be helping to provide clean, renewable electricity to people in Scotland and the UK for generations to come.