EIGHT enormous new turbines have been officially switched on after a £22.5million revamp of Burnley’s biggest wind farm.

Energy firm ScottishPower Renewables has replaced the 24 original turbines at Coal Clough Wind Farm with eight more powerful models.

Bosses expect the upgraded development, off The Long Causeway, Cliviger, to power 8,500 homes per year.

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Coal Clough was one of the first commercial wind farms to be built in the UK when it became operational in 1992, and is now one of only a handful of sites across the country that has been re-powered.

The eight new turbines will increase the total generating capacity of the wind farm from 9.6 megawatts (MW) to 16 MW.

Kenny Peberdy, ScottishPower Renewables’ operations managing director, oversaw yesterday’s launch.

He said: “Coal Clough was at the forefront of the green energy revolution in the UK, and our recent investment ensures that this area will continue to play a role in providing clean electricity fo decades to come.”

Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted by Burnley Council in January 2013.

Officials, including Keith Anderson, ScottishPower Renewables’ chief executive officer, held a reception at The Fighting Cocks Inn, in Red Lees Road, before being taken for a site tour.

Mr Peberdy said data from the original site showed that it had generated more than 400,000 megawatt hours of electricity during its 21-year operational life.

He said: “Onshore wind is the most cost-effective and viable renewable energy source in the UK and it is vital that we continue to invest in good projects like this.”