Key Takeaways

• Foresight has invested in the proposed Earba pumped-storage hydro project.
• The design specifies 1.8 GW of power and 40 GWh of stored energy.
• Those ratings equal roughly 22 hours at full discharge.
• Investment value was not disclosed and the facility is not operating yet.

Foresight Energy Infrastructure Partners II announced an investment in Gilkes Energy’s Earba project in the Scottish Highlands on October 19, 2026. Gilkes Energy and Foresight say the capital will support detailed engineering, procurement, investigations and construction preparations.

How Pumped Storage Works

Pumped-storage hydropower uses surplus electricity to pump water to an upper reservoir. When power is needed, the water runs downhill through turbines to generate electricity. Earba is therefore a storage project, not a new source of fuel.

The 1.8 GW rating describes the maximum power the plant could deliver, while 40 GWh describes its stored energy. Dividing energy by power gives about 22.2 hours at full output. This is a nameplate calculation, not a statement about current generation. Compare the role of generation assets in our Oklahoma wind transaction and Enel solar acquisition coverage.

Approvals and Next Steps

The Scottish Government planning register shows that the 1,800 MW proposal received consent in March 2025. The project also received preliminary consideration under Ofgem’s long-duration storage cap-and-floor scheme, with final decisions still expected in autumn 2026. Planning consent and preliminary financial support are not equivalent to commissioning.

Gilkes estimates that, once operating, Earba could generate electricity equivalent to the average consumption of more than 1.4 million UK homes. That estimate is forward-looking. The next milestones include regulatory decisions, engineering, financing and construction.

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