The Scottish Government has granted planning consent to add 10 turbines to a wind farm in the Highlands.

It will be an extension to the operational Millennium Wind Farm.

It will be located 8km west of Fort Augustus and have a generating capacity of 35MW. That’s enough to power almost 20,000 homes.

The project is expected to generate £4 million in community benefits and create up to 50 jobs during construction.

Scottish Business, Innovation and Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “The growth of onshore wind in recent years has been a key factor in the expansion of renewable energy in Scotland: creating jobs, providing secure and low carbon energy and delivering significant local benefits and it will remain a key contributor to our continued transition to a low carbon energy system, supported by a range of renewable energy technologies.”

Developer Falck Renewables welcomed the news.

CEO Toni Volpe added: “This wind farm extension will also support local community projects, help Scotland meet its energy targets and include measures to protect breeding birds and the environment.”