WORLD WIND ENERGY NET

BT HAS applied to build a test mast at Scousburgh Radio Station as part of its nationwide plans to develop wind farms which will generate up to a quarter of its existing UK electricity requirements by 2016.

The UK-wide project, costing up to £250m, will bring together third party funding and renewable energy partners to safeguard future supplies of green energy for BT as part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions.

BT's wind farms could generate a total of 250MW of electricity, enough to meet the power needs of 122,000 homes ­ - roughly the size of Aberdeen and Inverness combined.

Subject to planning consent and suitable sites being secured, BT's wind farms would have a total installed generating capacity of around 100MW by 2012, equivalent to around 50 wind turbines, with the remaining 150MW targeted by 2016.

BT Scotland director and member of Scotland's Climate Change Business Delivery Group, Brendan Dick said: "Organisations must reduce carbon in ways that make business sense. Broadband technology is already cutting the need to travel through home working and conferencing, which help the bottom line as well as the environment and are particularly pertinent in Scotland, where remoteness and geography are challenges.

"Our wind energy plans will play a significant part in reducing our footprint and in turn help Scotland, where we are a major employer with an extensive supply chain, to meet its commitments.

"All our stakeholders, including our people, customers and shareholders, want and expect us to work in a more environmentally friendly way that is sensitive to local need."

Cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth John Swinney said: "Scotland has a vast potential to generate electricity from renewable energy. We must be in a position to maximise our resources, which is why the Scottish government will build an energy strategy which will include the whole renewable mix ­ including wind generation.

"I am encouraged to hear about projects such as BT's, which are designed to safeguard supplies of clean, green energy while reducing carbon emissions. We want to see the right onshore wind developments in suitable locations that do not adversely impact on the environment and help us deliver a greener future for Scotland."