MORE small wind farms could be coming to Teesside after a study identified potential sites.

Renew Tees Valley, the company set up to promote the development of renewable energy, has identified sites for small-scale wind turbine projects.

They will not publicly reveal the 15 areas where they could be developed for fear of alerting big power companies.

A spokesman has insisted the company will tell Teesside councils they should only proceed with the small wind farms with the involvement of local communities.

Renew Tees Valley's chief executive, Dermot Roddy, argues that the study presents an opportunity for communities to take the initiative instead of big power companies.

He said: "The report has identified 15 sites within the Tees Valley with the potential to deliver relatively small wind power projects.

"About half are on industrial sites but the rest offer the opportunity to explore how local communities might benefit, for example by raising funding for important local projects and developments.

"There are a number of ways in which local communities can become involved, ranging from agreeing a deal with one of the major energy companies, to building and operating the turbines themselves and benefiting from the profits.

"It should be stressed that we are not talking here about huge wind farms but developments with perhaps only two or three medium-size turbines."