East Midlands Airport has installed two new wind turbines on the aerodrome, which will end up generating 5% of the airport's electricity.

As part of its 2006 commitment to make ground operations carbon neutral by 2012, the airport has become the first UK airport to generate energy from wind power.

The gateway has produced a comprehensive safety case for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which, now accepted, has allowed for commercial scale wind turbines to be installed on an airport site.

The turbines measure 45 metres in total, including the rotor blades, which have a radius of 15 metres.

Together the two turbines will produce 5% of the airport's electricity, or enough to power 150 houses.

Electricity will be generated from winds as low as four metres per second and over a year the turbines are expected to produce a carbon saving of approximately 300 tonnes.

Neil Robinson, director of sustainability at East Midlands Airport, said: "We are delighted that the turbines are now in situ and we are looking forward to seeing them generate power for the airport.

"The turbines will be installed for 20 years and we see it as a significant investment for the airport and the environment."