List of power stations in Scotland


This list of power stations in Scotland includes current and former electricity-generating power stations in Scotland, sorted by type. Scotland is a net exporter of electricity and has a generating capacity of over 10 GW. None of this is generated by conventional oil- or gas-burning power stations. Instead there is one large gas turbine power station and one large nuclear power station, as well as several hydro-electric schemes, predominantly in the Highlands, comprising over 80 generating stations with a combined capacity of 1.4 GW. Scotland also has an increasing number of wind farms, due to the large proportion of upland areas. As of July 2010, there were 100 operating wind farms in Scotland with a combined capacity of 8 GW; and a further 96 projects under construction or consented, with capacity of 2 GW. A number of other power plants include experimental wave power and tidal power generators, and Steven's Croft near Lockerbie which is the UK's largest wood-fired biomass power station. Since 2016, no coal fired power stations operate in Scotland.
A pink background denotes a power station that is no longer operational.

Nuclear power stations

NameOperatorLocation Council areaTypeCapacity CommissionedClosed
ChapelcrossNuclear Decommissioning AuthorityDumfries and GallowayMagnox20019592004
Dounreay DFRNuclear Decommissioning AuthorityHighlandFast breeder reactor1419621977
Dounreay PFRNuclear Decommissioning AuthorityHighlandFast breeder reactor25019751994
Hunterston ANuclear Decommissioning AuthorityNorth AyrshireMagnox36019641990
Hunterston BEDF EnergyNorth AyrshireAdvanced gas-cooled reactor1,28819762022
TornessEDF EnergyEast LothianAdvanced gas-cooled reactor1,3641988-

Coal-fired

Oil- and gas-fired

Hydro-electric

Pumped-storage hydro-electric

relies on gravity to propel water through power-generating turbines. The difference in height between the turbine and the water source is known as the "head". Scotland has two pumped-storage hydro-electric power stations, which pump water back up to a storage reservoir during periods of off-peak demand. Although claimed to be the first such station in the world when it opened in 1965 by the Visit Cruachan website, Drax Group PLC's Cruachan Power Station was preceded by the Ffestiniog Power Station in North Wales, which opened in 1963, and on a smaller scale by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Sron Mor power station opened in 1957, part of the Shira Hydro-Electric Scheme. Cruachan can hold of energy, equivalent to 22 hours of full production. 12 hours is reserved for black start.
NameOperatorLocation
Council areaGross head Capacity
Stored
energy
Date
commissioned
Sron MorSSE RenewablesArgyll and Bute51957
CruachanDrax GroupArgyll and Bute3604407 GWh or 8.81965
Foyers/Loch MhòrSSE RenewablesHighland1793006.3 GWh1974

There are several proposals for new pumped storage hydro-electric schemes in Scotland, mostly in the Great Glen;
  • The 600 MW Coire Glas scheme is being developed by SSE above the northwestern shores of Loch Lochy. The scheme was given planning permission in October 2020 and exploratory geotechnical work had started by December 2022.
  • The 450 MW Loch na Cathrach Pumped Storage Hydro Scheme to the southeast of Dores. It would involve a new upper reservoir constructed near Loch Duntelchaig. The scheme was developed by Intelligent Land Investments Group and acquired by Statkraft at the end of 2023.
  • An up-to 600 MW Loch Kemp Storage scheme, southwest of Loch Ness near Whitebridge. A planning application was submitted in November 2023. If built, the water level in Loch Kemp could fluctuate by up to 28 m. The Ness District Salmon Fisheries Board have raised concerns about the cumulative impact of these schemes on water levels in Loch Ness, and the effect this might have on Salmon.
  • The 900–1800 MW Earba Storage is being developed by Gilkes Energy in the Ardverikie Estate to the southwest of Loch Laggan. It would use Lochan na h-Earba and Loch a’ Bhealaich Leamhain as the lower and upper reservoirs, both with new dams required. An application for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act was submitted in March 2024, supported by an environmental impact assessment, and received planning consent in 2025.
  • A 1500 MW/45 GWh scheme is being developed in Argyll & Bute by Intelligent Land Investments Group called Balliemeanoch PSH, using Loch Awe as the lower reservoir. A planning application under Section 36 of the Electricity Act was submitted to the Scottish Government in July 2024, with the scheme aiming for completion in 2031.
  • A 1800 MW/37 GWh scheme at Loch Fearna above the existing reservoir at Loch Quoich is being developed by SSE Renewables and Gilkes Energy.
  • A 2 GW/34 GWh scheme is being developed by Glean Earrach Energy on the western shore of Loch Ness. The upper reservoir would be formed at Loch nam Breac Dearga, about half way between Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston, using Loch Ness as the lower reservoir. A 300–600 MW scheme was previously proposed by SSE under the name Balmacaan Hydro, storing up to 30 GWh. By May 2024, a consortium without SSE worked on the project. The planning application was submitted in May 2025.
Scotland has a potential for around 500 GWh of pumped storage.

Conventional hydro-electric

Several of Scotland's hydro-electric plants were built to power the aluminium smelting industry, but many more were built in the mid-20th century by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to supply the communities of the Highlands. These were built in several "schemes" of linked stations, each covering a catchment area, whereby the same water may generate power several times as it descends.
NameOperatorSchemeLocation
Council areaGross head
Capacity
Year
commissioned
AchanaltSSE RenewablesCononHighland2031956
AigasSSE RenewablesAffric-BeaulyHighland18201962
Allt FionnOsspower/Glenfalloch Estate-Stirling18022012
Allt-na-LairigeSSE RenewablesShiraArgyll and Bute24961956
AuchtertyreInnogy-Stirling-0.72000
BlantyreInnogy-South Lanarkshire-0.5751995
BonningtonLanarkshire Hydro-Electric Co. /
SSEB / Drax Group
LanarkSouth Lanarkshire30111927
BraevallichInnogy-Argyll and Bute-2.22006
CarnochInnogy-Highland2451.352006
CarsfadDrax GroupGallowayDumfries and Galloway20121936
CashlieSSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross142111959
CassleySSE RenewablesShinHighland11310?
CeannacrocSSE RenewablesGreat GlenHighland90201959
ChliostairSSE RenewablesChliostairWestern Isles12511960
ClachanSSE RenewablesShiraArgyll and Bute294401955
ClunieSSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross53611955
CuaichSSE RenewablesTummelHighland272.51959
CuileigSSE Renewables-Highland-3.22002
CulligranSSE RenewablesAffric-BeaulyHighland60191962
DalchonzieSSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross2941958
DeanieSSE RenewablesAffric-BeaulyHighland113381963
Douglas WaterInnogy-Argyll and Bute17332008
DrumjohnDrax GroupGallowayDumfries and Galloway-21985
EarlstounDrax GroupGallowayDumfries and Galloway20141936
ErrochtySSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross186751955
FasnakyleSSE RenewablesAffric-BeaulyHighland159691951
FinlarigSSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross41516.51955
Foyers FallsSSE RenewablesFoyersHighland10851896 reconf.
1971
GarrogieInnogy-Highland-2.42005
Garry GualachInnogy-Highland-0.782002
GaurSSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross307.51953
GislaSSE RenewablesGislaWestern Isles470.71960
Glen NoeRWEGlen NoeArgyll and Bute22021
Glen TarbertInnogy-Highland-0.852000
GlendoeSSE RenewablesGlendoeHighland6001002009
GlenleeDrax GroupGallowayDumfries and Galloway120241935
GlenmoristonSSE RenewablesGreat GlenHighland93371957
Grudie BridgeSSE RenewablesCononHighland16818.71950
InveraweSSE RenewablesSloy-AweArgyll and Bute36251963
InverbainInnogy-Highland-12005
InvergarrySSE RenewablesGreat GlenHighland53201956
InverlaelInnogy-Highland1202.52009
KendoonDrax GroupGallowayDumfries and Galloway46241936
Kerry FallsSSE Renewables-Highland5611952
KilmelfortSSE RenewablesKilmelfortArgyll and Bute11121956
KilmorackSSE RenewablesAffric-BeaulyHighland17201962
KingairlochSSE Renewables-Highland-3.52005
KinlochlevenGFG Alliance -Highland285301909
LairgSSE RenewablesShinHighland103.51959
LednockSSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross9131961
LivishieSSE RenewablesGreat GlenHighland259151962
Loch DubhSSE RenewablesLoch DubhHighland1661.21955
Loch Eilde MorGreen Highland Renewables-Highland2.02017
Loch ErichtSSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross552.21962
Loch GairSSE RenewablesLoch GairArgyll and Bute10961961
Loch na LaoirghGilkes Energy-Highland500.952017
LochaberGFG Alliance LochaberHighland-651944
LochaySSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross180451958
LubreochSSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross3041958
LuichartSSE RenewablesCononHighland56341954
LussaSSE RenewablesLussaArgyll and Bute1162.41952
MorarSSE RenewablesMorarHighland511948
MossfordSSE RenewablesCononHighland16118.61957
MucomirSSE RenewablesGreat GlenHighland71.951962
MullardochSSE RenewablesAffric-BeaulyHighland272.41955
NantSSE RenewablesSloy-AweArgyll and Bute172151963
Nostie BridgeSSE RenewablesLochalshHighland14911948
OrrinSSE RenewablesCononHighland222181959
PattackGilkes Energy-Highland15052017
PitlochrySSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross15151950
QuoichSSE RenewablesGreat GlenHighland101181955
RannochSSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross156441930
River EInnogy-Highland28732007
ShinSSE RenewablesShinHighland8118.61958
SloySSE RenewablesSloyArgyll and Bute277152.51950
Sron MorSSE RenewablesShiraArgyll and Bute4651957
St FillansSSE RenewablesBreadalbanePerth and Kinross25316.81957
Stanley MillsInnogy-Perth and Kinross-0.842003
StonebyresLanarkshire Hydro-Electric Co. /
SSEB / Drax Group
LanarkSouth Lanarkshire5151927
Storr LochsSSE RenewablesStorr LochsHighland1362.41952
StrathanGilkes Energy-Highland1770.52017
StrivenSSE RenewablesStrivenArgyll and Bute12381951
TaodailGilkes Energy-Highland1011.352017
TonglandDrax GroupGallowayDumfries and Galloway32331935
Torr AchiltySSE RenewablesCononHighland16151954
TrinafourSSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross910.51959
Tummel BridgeSSE RenewablesTummelPerth and Kinross53341935
Uisge DubhGilkes Energy-Highland8522017