The University of St Andrews, Scotland's oldest university, plans to build its own wind farm to generate electricity and save million of pounds.

The university currently spends a "crippling" £5.4 million a year on energy and believes that wind power will allow it to cut costs while also reducing carbon emissions.

The new facility could even produce enough energy for St Andrews to turn a profit by selling electricity back to the National Grid.

"We have got to do something. We're just completely crippled by our energy costs. If the price of gas goes up, we have to pay for it, and that's money we could invest in research and teaching."

University officials have selected a 500-acre site called Kenly Farm around five miles from St Andrews and have already held discussions with local people.

The land is already owned by the university which is currently preparing a formal planning application, according to Times Higher Education.

Others universities are expected to follow St Andrews' lead in adopting renewable energy sources.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England will this week launch a consultation stating that universities will have to meet strict carbon targets – reducing emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050 – or face funding cuts.

Earlier this month country residents were told by the Government that they must accept the building of "many thousands" of wind turbines as part of a new green energy strategy.

Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said that planning rules would be changed to make it easier for 6,000 onshore wind turbines to be built.

(www.eduwo.com, Jainlyn&Charlotte)