First major hydropower projects in Great Britain in 40 years given go-ahead

SSE’s Coire Glas project expects to draw water from Loch Lochy between Fort William and Inverness. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Great Britain’s first new major hydropower projects in more than 40 years are expected to move ahead after the energy regulator gave a provisional green light to three proposals as part of a plan to reduce the country’s reliance on energy imports.

All three of the new pumped storage hydroelectric power station projects are due to be built in northern Scotland, where the region’s lochs will act as natural reservoirs to serve the hydropower stations.