A second phase of Ground Investigation (GI) works has commenced this week at the Earba Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) project site.
The previous campaign in 2024 included a series of boreholes and trial pits, supported by peat probing and geophysical surveys.
As shown in the accompanying image, specialist drilling equipment and site teams are now active on location, working across carefully selected areas within the project site. The initial focus of this campaign will be on a number of deep (100m) boreholes in a key location identified at the proposed main powerhouse.
These works build on earlier investigations and represent an important step ahead of the Final Investment Decision, currently expected in 2027. By further refining the understanding of ground conditions, including soil composition and underlying rock profiles, the project team will continue to enhance the developing 3D ground model.
This improved level of detail will support the accurate siting of key infrastructure, such as dams and the powerhouse, helping to reduce the likelihood of design changes later in the process. In addition, the expanded dataset will enable a more informed approach to detailed design and construction planning.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Carl Crompton, Managing Director of Gilkes Energy said:
"We are thrilled to reach this milestone, and it is great to see equipment now active on site. The information and data gathered through these ground investigation activities will improve our understanding of subsurface conditions and are essential in refining the ongoing civil works procurement packages."
About the Earba PSH Project:
The Earba Project is a proposed pumped storage hydro (PSH) scheme with an installed capacity of 1,800MW and stored energy of 40,000 MWh, making it the largest such scheme ever consented in the UK. Visit the project website at https://earbastorage.co.uk/the-project/ to learn more about the project and why the UK needs significantly more energy storage.
Please visit the dedicated project website www.earbastorage.co.uk for regular updates.
