Friday 3 June 2011

Scottish university plans its own wind farm

A Scottish university is taking action to counter rising energy costs by building its own wind farm.

The University of St Andrews is seeking planning permission from Fife Council to develop a 12 megawatt wind farm.

The six turbine Kenly Wind Farm would be built on the site of an abandoned Second World War airbase. The move for planning approval follows a three-year process of research and talks with local communities in Boarhills, Dunino and Kingsbarns.

The University has seen its bills triple since 2005 to £5.4 million a year, which Quaestor and Factor Derek Watson described as "a major financial risk" for the institution, the equivalent to the salaries of up to 120 full-time staff at St Andrews.

St Andrews has spent £1.9 million undertaking 111 green projects in total.