Acorn Bioenergy, headquartered in London, is seeking to build the first of a series of anaerobic digestion plants in the north of Scotland on a 7.5-hectare site at Fearn Airfield, near Balintore.

The proposed plant would become operational by 2024, and would be joined by additional plans in the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire. The company has already submitted a planning application for a gas injection point near Morayston.

Natalie Dillon, business development manager at Acorn, said: “This is an exciting stage for our planned projects in the Highlands and we are looking forward to working closely with the local communities and The Highland Council as we continue to develop them.

“There is a pressing need for greater UK energy security and a rapidly increasing demand for greener fuel for the transition to net zero - anaerobic digestion is a centuries old technology that can produce clean, green energy to heat homes and power HGVs.

“We have identified areas in Scotland where agriculture and distilleries are a significant part of the landscape and would like to work with farmers and distillers to offer an alternative source of secure income with longevity in return for feedstock.”