Planning approval has been granted for two renewable projects in Fife and the Highlands.

Scottish Ministers gave their consent for a 20-turbine wind farm at Moy, near Inverness, while a combined heat and power biomass plant will be constructed at the Port of Rosyth.

The Moy wind farm, which represents a £65m investment by developer Eneco Wind UK Ltd, will have 20 turbines with a generating capacity of up to 66MW. It could power the equivalent of approximately 31,000 homes in the area.

The Rosyth plant, a £325m investment by Forth Energy, would provide low carbon energy to the local area, and the equivalent of more than 40% of the Fife Council area's electricity needs would be met by the development.

In addition to the above, both projects would also lead to the creation of a significant number of jobs, with the Rosyth plant bringing up to 500 jobs to the area during the construction phase, with 70 operational jobs based at the port; while up to 60 workers will be employed at the Moy wind farm during construction.

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Welcoming the announcement, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, said: "The Moy wind farm will create a significant number of jobs, as well as generating power for many thousands of homes.

"Projects like this provide considerable benefits to the local community, and play an important part in helping Scotland reach its target of 100 per cent of electricity demand generated from renewables.

"The Scottish Government wants to see the right developments in the right places, and Scottish planning policy is clear that the design and location of renewables projects should reflect the scale and character of the landscape, as well as being considered environmentally acceptable."

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing added: "The combined heat and power plant at the Port of Rosyth will create hundreds of jobs during its construction, and while in operation will continue to support local employment while generating renewable power for local business and industry.

"In consenting this application I have put in place a series of conditions to protect local residents from inconvenience, and protect the environment and air quality. The conditions to the consent also ensure that the fuel used in the biomass is from sustainable and responsible sources."

(JP/CD)