North Ayrshire Council are set to approve the installation of a synchronous compensator at Hunterston this week.

A synchronous compensator is a plant that can facilitate efficient and stable operation of electricity in a network.

The applicants are ESB Asset Development UK.

It would be based at a site to the south west of Hunterston Coal Yard

The applicant has provided a statement that the purpose of this plant would be to help create stability in the National Grid, reacting when extra power is needed and providing more control over voltage.

This development would allow for increased renewable energy generation connecting onto the National Grid.

This site has been selected as it has the ability to connect to the National Grid through a substation with the requisite transmission capacity.

Fairlie Community Council raised noise concerns.

North Ayrshire's Environmental Health have no objections to the principle of the development but say any permission should be subject to a condition that the noise level should not exceed

background noise level.