Planning permission has been granted for a new 49.9MW pumped storage plant near Snowdonia in Wales, UK.
At a meeting on 2 September, Gywnedd Council granted developers Quarry Battery Company (QBC) the OK to develop the £100M facility on the Glyn Rhonwy site.
The project is expected to involve construction of a 20m high dam on the upper quarry and a 15m dam on the lower
Quarry, as well as tunnels, powerhouse and transmission infrastructure. QBC is aiming to have the site operational by 2017.
The company said the Glyn Rhonwy scheme will provide a substantial boost to the regional economy during the construction phase in the form of wages and the supply of technical services, materials and equipment, food and accommodation. As many as 30 full time jobs will be created to operate the site. In addition, QBC is establishing an independent trust to manage initial grants totalling £250,000 and then on-going direct contributions of £10,000 a year to support community projects for what is anticipated to be an operational life of 100 years.
Environmental groups however said they were concerned about the project, suggesting that the plant could have negative effects on local wildlife, culture and heritage.
