Statera Energy

Ness Weir II

Helping to secure the future of Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal

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Public Consultation

Following feedback from our 2024 public consultation events and further technical work, we will be presenting updated proposals which are robust, sustainable, and better aligned with community and environmental priorities. These events are an opportunity to gather further feedback from local communities and stakeholders.

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The Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness

Over 200 years ago, the legendary Scottish Civil Engineer Thomas Telford created the engineering marvel the Caledonian Canal. He created an east to west transportation route across Scotland along the Great Glen, including Loch Ness. It comprised a series of lochs and canal locks, as well as bridges and aqueducts, and is still in use today.  

Loch Ness is just as important as it ever was, lying at the centre of the Highlands’ economy, providing jobs in tourism, green energy, and utilities.

Ness Weir

A key element of the Caledonian Canal design was Ness Weir (also known as 'Dochfour Weir'), which is located at the point where Loch Dochfour and the River Ness come together.

Ness Weir was designed to ensure the water levels through Loch Ness and into the Caledonian Canal are maintained at a level which allows boats to transit through the canal. Water levels in Loch Ness are controlled by Ness Weir via existing sluice gates.

A weir is a low-lying structure across a waterway which creates a barrier that raises water levels on the upstream side. Water then spills over the weir crest and water levels are controlled with mechanical structures such as sluice gates or tilting weirs.

Watch: Introducing Ness Weir II

The site

The Ness Weir II Proposal

Statera Energy is proposing to upgrade the existing Ness Weir structure as part of a wider initiative to unlock the potential of pumped storage hydro (PSH) in the Highlands. This development is designed to safeguard the navigability of the Caledonian Canal while improving the management of water levels in Loch Ness. By enhancing the weir’s functionality, we aim to support the long-term resilience of the region’s water infrastructure in the face of climate change.

The proposed modifications include raising the crest level of the existing service weir and waste weir, installing new control gates along the service weir and the Dochgarroch eastern embankment, and constructing new fish passes to support aquatic biodiversity. Additionally, we plan to make targeted modifications to the eastern and western Dochgarroch embankments, including localised regrading and raising to create a consistent crest height. These changes will enable more dynamic and responsive management of water levels in Loch Ness throughout the year.

Improving the function of Ness Weir would allow water levels in Loch Ness to be more effectively managed. Ensuring water resilience for all those who depend on the loch.

The Benefits

We believe these upgrades will deliver significant benefits for the region enhancing climate resilience, supporting renewable energy infrastructure, and protecting the long-term usability of the Caledonian Canal.

Supporting Clean Energy
By reducing curtailment of pumped storage hydro during low summer water levels, the project will help maximise renewable energy generation.

Protecting Loch Ness
Improved water resilience will benefit all users of the loch and safeguard sensitive habitats.

Reducing Flood Risk
The proposed operation of Ness Weir II is expected to lower flood risk for Inverness.

Enabling Greener Construction
By facilitating freight movement via the canal, the project will ease pressure on local roads and reduce transport emissions.

Why is the project needed?

More dramatic seasonal changes in the weather are increasing the probability of lower water levels in Loch Ness. With climate change these low water events are likely to increase in the future

Low water levels on Loch Ness can have far-reaching consequences for the region. They impact not only the viability of pumped storage hydro, a cornerstone of Scotland’s clean energy transition, but also affect local businesses, leisure users, the Caledonian Canal, surrounding waterways, and the delicate loch environment.

While Statera’s Loch Kemp Storage project remains viable without changes to the existing weir, long-term projections show increasing water stress within the Loch Ness catchment. This trend is expected to continue regardless of additional pumped storage developments.

Forecasts predict higher winter flows and lower summer flows

The Loch Ness catchment area is a vast and complex hydrological system, supporting a wide range of users including communities, businesses, and energy infrastructure most notably pumped storage hydro. This system relies on consistent water availability to function effectively.

Over the past 40 years, SEPA has carefully monitored how much water flows into the Loch Ness catchment. Their long-term data shows that water levels are changing, and our studies suggest this is due to more extreme and unpredictable weather than we've seen in the past. Climate change is playing a major role. It's causing longer and more frequent periods of low water, especially in the summer.

To help us plan for the future, climate modelling has been carried out as part of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment. These forecasts show that winters are likely to become wetter, while summers will be drier. On the graph, the blue line shows the historic average monthly flow rate (from 1981 to 2022), and the red line shows what we expect in the future if no changes are made. The shaded area between the two lines highlights the difference in water flow showing how much lower summer flows could be if we don’t act.

Have your say

Public Consultation

Find out more