DUNFERMLINE MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has backed "potentially exciting" proposals from companies in New York and Singapore to build a solar farm north of Wellwood.

She said the benefits would be as clear as day with AMPYR Energy UK Development Ltd able to supply the electricity needs of 10,000 homes.

It's a joint venture between Singapore-based AGP Group and New York-based Hartree Partners and would see 82,500 solar panels erected on land across the road from the Lochhead landfill site.

Ms Somerville visited the site recently and said: "I was pleased to get the chance to speak with the developers behind the proposed solar farm and to see what benefits could be in store for our local communities.

"It's clearly a potentially exciting addition to Dunfermline and Fife's environmental infrastructure and I'm grateful to the team for inviting me along to discuss their plans in greater detail.

"The Scottish Government has a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2045 and to achieve this we need to continue to embrace renewable technology.

"As Scotland hosts what may well end up being the most important international conference of this century, COP26, it's crucial we also keep looking for new ways locally to protect our environment."

AMPYR Energy is a global developer and operator of renewable energy assets with offices in London, Delhi, Singapore and Sydney.

They've outlined their plans to Fife Council and are awaiting a response from the local authority about whether an environmental impact assessment will be required.

The company said: "The land has been fully remediated by the landowner and its development now as a solar farm will be a major step towards a sustainable future for a growing city."

The 29.9 megawatt (MW) solar farm would be built on a site that's 112 acres in size and south of Lochhead Road, on farmland that was formerly an opencast coal mine and Lochhead Quarry and is currently used for grazing.

The proposals include underground cabling, a maintenance building, substation, security perimeter fencing, CCTV, an access track and a battery storage facility.

If approved, construction would take around 12 weeks with 82,500 solar panels set out in long rows.

After submitting a proposal of application notice to the council earlier this year, Andrew Gould, director of AMPYR Energy, said: "This is the first of a number of solar and on-shore wind projects we are developing in Scotland and the first to commence the planning and public consultation process.

“We are establishing a skills supply chain and employment plan and we aim to utilise local suppliers for equipment and services wherever possible.

“Fife Council has published a climate emergency declaration and this project can contribute towards Fife Council and Scottish Government net-zero emissions targets as well as providing cheap, clean, renewable energy.”