Scottish ministers have approved a 23 turbine extension on the Black Law wind farm, North Lanarkshire and confirmed the construction of the Blackcraig wind farm, near New Galloway.

The plans for the building of the turbines are part of a broad and successful surge in Scottish renewables, as the country scrapped its 50% renewable energy targets in favour of an 80% goal for 2020.

42 new renewables projects have now been consented n the past four years, totalling more than 2,000 MW of power output.

Both projects will build 23 turbines, providing 69 MW of electricity.

Jim Mather, Energy Minister, said of the Black Law site: “Black Law is already a successful wind farm that has turned an open cast mine into a green energy centre. Once the extension is complete, the wind farm will generate enough green electricity to power 98,000 homes. The development is also good for the local economy, with around 80 new jobs during construction and renewed opportunities for local contractors.”

Since 2007 the Scottish Government has made 50 applications for renewable energy projects, with 42 being consented- more than double the number of determinations than over the whole of the previous four years.

In 2009, 27% of demand came from renewables. There is around 7 GW of renewable capacity installed, under construction or consented around Scotland, which will take Scotland beyond the interim target of 31 per cent of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewables by 2011.