Planning permission has been approved for two new wind farms, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has announced. When combined, the developments will power more than 100,000 homes and deliver community benefits of over £28m.

The first wind farm is an located to the east of Abington and is an extension to the existing Clyde wind farm. It will generate up to an additional 171MW – enough to power more than 76,000 homes. The expansion will bring the total capacity of the wind farm to 512 MW. The existing Clyde wind farm comprises 152 turbines and construction was completed in 2011.

-- Advertisement --

The second application will allow work to begin on the Dersalloch wind farm in South Ayrshire. It will have a maximum generating capacity of 69MW – enough to power around 32,500 homes.

During the construction phase of the development, approximately 120 temporary jobs will be created. It is estimated that over the wind farm's 25-year operational period, it will also deliver a community benefits package worth more than £8.5m.

Announcing the developments, Minister Ewing said: "These two wind farms will create jobs both in their construction, and during their lifetime. Once they are up and running, the wind farms will save thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, and will be able to produce enough electricity to power thousands of homes."

(JP/IT)