THE first of two public consultation session on plans to increase the power of a gas-fired peaking plant in Inverkeithing will take place next week.

Two events – on Wednesday October 11 and Thursday October 26 – will be held at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel at North Queensferry from 3pm until 7pm. 

There, details will be shared about Forsa Energy's proposal to increase the capacity of the facility on Belleknowes Industrial Estate from 10.9mw to 20.7mw.

As previously reported in the Press, the firm have already tweaked their plans, gaining permission last December to extend the lifetime of the gas plant from 20 to 25 years, but the latest change requires public consultation before it can go ahead.

READ MORE: Plan to increase power at gas-fired plant

Forsa's planning agent explained: "These facilities, which are being rolled out throughout the country, ensure security of supply of electricity when there is a shortage in the national grid.

"For example when there is a shortage of wind and the turbines do not provide enough electricity to the national grid then such electricity generating facilities ‘kick-in’ and provide security of supply, when necessary.

"There will be no change to the design or detail of the application granted planning permission in December 2022.

"The increase in energy export is achieved through greater efficiency of the engines and consequently there is no difference to air quality or noise.

"Planning legislation requires that any such facility which exports more than 20MW is to be treated as a major application and therefore be subject to a public consultation procedure."