The conversion of a disused mine near Cumnock into a major electricity supplier should bring a massive jobs boost to the area, according to a new report.

The former open cast mine at Glenmuckloch, 13 miles south Cumnock, is to be turned into a £250 million pumped storage hydro (PSH) plant and wind farm.

It is one of six Scottish green projects which, it is claimed, could also create up to 14,800 UK jobs and generate up to £5.8 billion for the British economy by 2035.

The report by industry body Scottish Renewables and energy thinktank BiGGAR Economics studied the economic impact of six pumped storage hydro projects currently in development in Scotland.

The research found Glenmuckloch, located between New Cumnock and Kirkconnel, would require hundreds of workers during construction and then create further long-term jobs.

Scottish Renewables is calling on the UK Government to do more to encourage the necessary investment to get projects like Glenmuckloch up and running.

Pumped storage hydro is similar to a giant battery as it can store energy and then release it when needed.

Each facility uses two water reservoirs at different elevations and power is generated when water moves down from one to the other passing through a turbine.

When demand for electricity is low, water is pumped back up to the upper reservoir where it is stored for future use.

Andrew MacNish Porter, policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said:“From this report we know that pumped hydro storage is uniquely placed to deliver benefits to communities across the UK and, as an established and proven technology, it will play a crucial role in achieving the UK Government’s net-zero ambitions and delivering energy security for consumers.

“However, an investment framework is needed to secure the massive capital investment required for these projects."

Finlay McCutcheon, director of onshore renewables (Europe) at SSE Renewables added:"Projects including Glenmuckloch will not only play a critical role in decarbonising the UK’s electricity system and reducing consumer bills but will help unlock billions of pounds of investment and create thousands of skilled jobs across the country."

Buccleuch Estates, which owns Glenmuckloch, signed a deal with Foresight Energy Infrastructure Partners last year to develop the hydro and wind farm schemes.

Planning permission for the Glenmuckloch project was also extended in 2022.

The other five hydro sites are in Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross and the Highlands.

This weekend the world's top electric car rally drivers - including teams teams backed by Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button - will hold their annual Hydro X Prix at Glenmuckloch,

The site for the Extreme E series event is located off the A76 between New Cumnock and Kirkconnel, just across the border into Dumfries and Galloway.

Spectators are banned from the televised event so as to reduce the carbon footprint.