PLANS for a solar farm and battery storage facility near Dunfermline have been unveiled.

Edinburgh-based Craigluscar Solar Ltd are seeking permission for the facility on 90 hectares of land along Craigluscar Road, 3km from the city centre.

If approved, it would have enough capacity to generate energy for around 40 per cent of the current homes in Dunfermline for a year.

The site near Milesmark is located on farmland used for grazing livestock.

A planning statement on the firm's behalf said: “A solar farm of this size will generate and export approximately 52GWh of locally sourced renewable electricity to the national grid annually.

"This is equivalent to a typical annual demand of circa 10,800 UK households. The proposed solar farm will offset approximately 27,664 tonnes of carbon dioxide in year one.

“This represents a significant contribution to the legally binding national and international targets to increase renewable energy generation and reduce carbon emissions.”

The proposal includes solar panels, battery storage units, perimeter fencing, CCTV cameras, an internal access track, underground cabling, inverters, substations, grid connection, environmental enhancement measures and other ancillary development.

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According to developers, the Townhill substation has an “imbalance of generation and demand”. That’s why Craigluscar Solar wants to build this solar and battery farm near the substation to help meet local demand.

If the proposals are approved, the solar farm would connect to the existing Scottish Power network at Townhill via an underground cable.

Developers have also listened to community concerns about construction and traffic. All HGV delivery vehicles will be required to arrive via the M90 motorway and then the B914, B915, A823 and Drumtuthill Road to reduce local impact.

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It is also proposed that land around and underneath the panels will continue to support grazing by sheep.

Craigluscar Solar have also committed to providing a community benefit fund for use by the local community.

The details are not set in stone, but the benefits would be managed between Saline and Steelend, Milesmark and Baldridge, and Carnock and Gowkhall community councils.

Some of the ideas for the money include community energy cost subsidies towards fuel poverty, insulation and renewable energy; contributions towards local events or heritage projects; and EV charging points installed within the local area.

“[Developers] are keen to support the local community around Craigluscar and will support the community councils should the project be consented,” the firm added.

They said there will also be a wider socio-economic benefit to the local and national economy through the £40m project and opportunities for local businesses to support the project during the construction phase.