91Èȱ¬

The firm behind controversial proposals for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston in Ayrshire has formed a consortium to move the project forward.

Ayrshire Power wants to build a plant with experimental carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at the site.

It will now work with carbon capture provider, Doosan Power Systems, Fluor, an engineering and construction company, and oil and gas firm Petrofac.

Campaigners have claimed the plant will harm wildlife and the environment.

Other partners had earlier pulled out of the scheme.

Ayrshire Power estimates that the new plant could meet the electricity needs of up to three million homes.

The company said the station would create a significant number of jobs in Scotland, including more than 100 professional engineering jobs in Renfrew.

About 1,600 construction jobs in North Ayrshire would also be created at the peak of the construction phase, with approximately 160 once the plant is up and running.

The new plant will require around £100m of carbon capture and storage equipment.

Ayrshire Power's proposals were submitted to the Scottish government's Energy Consents and Deployment Unit in June.

The company is currently working with North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to address the issues raised by the application for consent.

But campaign groups say thousands of people oppose the scheme.

Last month a judicial review got under way at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, challenging the Scottish government's decision to include the planned facility as a National Development in the National Planning Framework.