Plans for two renewable energy plants in Scotland are on display this week.

Forth Energy is to build biomass facilities in the ports of Leith and Rosyth to encourage the development of more offshore wind power in the area, as well as provide a boost for Scotland’s timber industry in the country.

The Leith plant will generate up to 200MW of energy, while Rosyth will power up to 100MW.

Forth Energy is a joint venture between Scottish and Southern Energy and Forth Ports and plans have been set out to create two further dockside plants at Dundee and Grangemouth.

Forth Energy expects the two plants to give a much-needed boost to Scotland’s timber trade, which has suffered a fall in demand due to reduced print media production.

Ports are very much in vogue for renewable energy schemes, not least because the raw materials for projects can arrive almost to the doorstep via ship.

A £300m biomass plant is to be built at the Port of Liverpool, the port of Hull wants to build a £100m wind turbine factory and there are proposals for a £400m renewable centre on Humberside.

The go-ahead of £60m ports’ infrastructure funding in last month’s Spending Review also secured foreign interest, with Siemens, GE and Gamesa committing to renewable developments in the UK.