Russia is planning to invest $200 million in the construction of the country's largest wind-power plant in the southern Krasnodar Territory, the chief specialist at a Russian engineering company has said.

The plant, to be located near the city of Yeisk, on the coast of the Sea of Azov, will initially produce 50MW of energy annually, with its capacity then expected to rise to 100MW a year.

The land for the plant's construction has already been allocated, Adolf Chernyavsky from the Rostovteploelektroproekt company said. Construction will begin when a special bill determining the procedure for the allocation of the money is adopted, he said.

The development of alternative energy sources is in line with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's move to diversify the country's economy, which is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports.

Research conducted in the Yeisk area has revealed the three best sites for the plant's wind power generators, Chernyavsky said, adding that the generators will occupy a total of 700 hectares.

The money for the project is to be allocated from the state budget and private funds.

According to the company's estimates, the Southern and North Caucasus Federal Districts' energy output may account for 200 billion kilowatt-hours a year (the same amount of energy is needed to extract 50 billion barrels of oil or bake 17.6 trillion loaves of bread).

Russia also intends to build its first solar plant in the North Caucasus resort city of Kislovodsk. Chernyavsky said on Thursday that construction, which will require 3 billion rubles ($99 million), may begin in 2011.

The general capacity of the plant, which will produce both heating and electricity, will be 13 MW.

NALCHIK, July 30 (RIA Novosti)