The application has been granted to add another 52 turbines to the 20-turbine Crystal Rig wind farm, making a total installed capacity of 164MW.
“The extension at Crystal Rig is good news for our renewables sector, and followed a lengthy consultation process designed to ensure it does not come at an unacceptable cost to the surrounding environment,” said Scottish deputy enterprise minister Allan Wilson.
“This will not only cut carbon emissions but is also a step towards Scotland becoming a world leader in the renewable energy sector.”
The site will be operated by Natural Power Consultants, a subsidiary of Norwegian power firm Fred Olson Renewables, which estimates it will create up to 100 jobs in the local area during construction.
“Today’s announcement takes us an important step closer to meeting our 2010 renewable and climate change targets,” said British Wind Energy Association chief executive Marcus Rand.
“The wind industry in the UK has now firmly arrived and is growing at a record rate.”
