SSE’s Coire Glas becomes first pumped storage project to achieve Hydropower Sustainability Standard
11 Sep 2025
SSE Renewable’s Coire Glas pumped storage hydropower project has become the first scheme of its kind to achieve the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. The renewable energy project, supported by Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, achieved a ‘Gold Standard’ rating, having successfully completed an extensive auditing program from the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance.
The Hydropower Sustainability Certification System, governed by the Hydropower Sustainability Council and supported by the International Hydropower Association (IHA,) is a globally recognized labelling and certification scheme that outlines stringent expectations for hydropower projects around the world. It provides accountability upstream and assurance downstream across the hydropower value chain, and allows interested parties, from developers and operators, to financiers and governments, to demonstrate their commitments to sustainability. The standard promotes socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable hydropower development.
Coire Glas is the first large-scale pumped storage hydropower scheme to be developed in the United Kingdom in over 40 years. It has been designed to align and support Scottish and UK climate policy objectives by enabling greater renewable energy integration. Stantec has worked with SSE Renewables on the Coire Glas scheme for more than a decade, supporting the project in Owner’s Engineer and Designer roles with a wide range of planning and environmental, design, and engineering services to enable its construction. Once built, it is expected to be able to have a potential capacity of up to 1,500 megawatts and over 30 gigawatts of energy storage, which will more than double the country’s pumped hydro storage capability.
Setting the bar high
Craig Scott, director of hydropower and dams at Stantec, a certified user of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, co-authored the International Hydropower Association’s Sustainability Guide for Pumped Storage Hydropower. He said: “By passing this rigorous assessment process, SSE has set an incredibly high benchmark of global excellence for sustainable pumped storage hydropower. It is fantastic to see Coire Glas, a transformative and nationally significant scheme, already being commended for its aspirations in environmental responsibility.”“Attaining Gold certification is a testament to the diligence and dedication of the Coire Glas project team. It also reflects the positive contribution of the contractors who worked with us on the project to date,” said: Mike Seaton, Coire Glas project director. “While there is still a way to go to ensure there is an investable policy mechanism to support it, Coire Glas has a crucial role to play in helping the UK and Scottish Governments meet their Net Zero targets. We are delighted to demonstrate that developments of this type can be developed with a focus on sustainability.”
Backed by local knowledge and global expertise
A global leader in pumped storage, Stantec provides a full range of engineering and environmental services, including concept planning, implementation, and rehabilitation services over the entire lifecycle of a project. Stantec has developed a global footprint in pumped storage from more than 60 years of experience working with international clients and has one of the largest teams of pumped storage specialists in the international consulting industry.
Stantec supported a complex one-kilometre-long geological and geotechnical investigation adit for Coire Glas, which was recently named Ground Investigation Project of the Year at the 2024 Ground Engineering Awards for the second year in a row.
