Ofgem provisionally approved three pumped storage hydro projects in northern Scotland—Statera Energy’s Loch Kemp (drawing from Loch Ness), SSE’s Coire Glas (Loch Lochy), and Gilkes Energy’s Earba (Loch Leamhain and Loch Earba, which would be the UK’s largest such facility)—with construction expected by the early 2030s. The three schemes were among 16 long-duration electricity storage projects cleared to operate for eight hours or more, part of an effort to balance variable renewable output and reduce reliance on energy imports.