The Highlands must receive a lasting share of the billions being invested in pumped storage hydro projects rather than simply providing the land and natural resources, MP Angus MacDonald has warned.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire raised the issue during a Westminster Hall debate on long duration electricity storage, calling for guaranteed community benefits from major developments planned across the region.

MacDonald argued that the Highlands already makes an enormous contribution to Britain’s renewable energy ambitions, generating around 12 times more electricity than it consumes.

Yet many of the communities hosting energy infrastructure continue to face high living costs, relatively low incomes and serious levels of fuel poverty.

With new pumped storage schemes potentially operating for more than a century, he believes the investment should leave a lasting legacy of employment, housing and community improvements.

The technology uses electricity to pump water into an upper reservoir when demand is lower, releasing it through turbines to generate power when it is needed.

Such projects are expected to play an important role in storing renewable electricity and helping balance the wider energy system.

But MacDonald wants greater attention paid to the communities whose landscapes, infrastructure and resources make these developments possible.

He told MPs:

“Rural Scotland plays a vital role in enabling Britain to achieve its net zero ambitions, but the communities hosting this infrastructure must share in the benefits.

“These projects represent billions of pounds of investment and could operate for more than 100 years.

“We cannot allow the Highlands to provide the land and natural resources while local people are left with few lasting jobs, no legacy housing and inadequate community benefits.”

The MP’s concerns centre on ensuring that major construction programmes deliver more than temporary economic activity before moving on.

He is calling for agreements that secure long term employment opportunities, housing and investment in the communities affected by the developments.

Responding during the debate, Energy Minister Michael Shanks welcomed the contribution that long duration electricity storage could make to Britain’s future energy system.

He said:

“I really welcome the Hon Gentleman’s recognition of how important Long Duration Energy Storage is on our system.

“It (renewable energy) also has to be the foundation of delivering economic growth.

“He (Mr MacDonald) rightly recognised the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘growth in every postcode’.

“Energy policy does not exist in a vacuum, it is part of our industrial strategy.

“We’re building these extraordinarily important projects that will last for over a century or more, there has to be some legacy for the communities from those projects, and we have to bring people with us on this journey.”

Speaking after the debate, MacDonald welcomed the minister’s response but pressed for firmer commitments.

“I am very glad to have been able to raise this issue in Parliament again, and to push the government to do better for our communities in the Highlands.

“Today’s debate was an important opportunity to highlight the need for Highland communities to share in the benefits of the energy infrastructure they host.

“The only way this will happen is if the UK Government works proactively with Ofgem, the Scottish Government and industry to secure in legislation the requirement for long-lasting and meaningful benefits for local people, through jobs, housing and community investment.

“Pumped storage has the potential to be a huge asset for the Highlands, but we must ensure that the people who live here benefit from it for generations to come.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue to make this case until both of Scotland’s government get onboard.”

No new statutory guarantee of community benefits was announced in the minister’s response.

For Highland communities, the question is increasingly not simply how much energy infrastructure will be built, but what remains locally once construction is finished.

MacDonald wants that answer to include permanent opportunities and investment lasting for generations.