Callum Wilson, managing director of Forth Energy, the company behind the controversial proposal, will be one of the speakers at the Solar Cities Scotland conference in The Space at Dundee College on June 18.

His appearance at the annual event could widen the debate about issues surrounding the turbines, suggested Solar Cities Scotland community carbon exchange co-ordinator Alistair Macleod.

Mr Wilson will speak on “bringing sustainable energy to our cities” and will be followed by Alan Beddie from Community Energy Scotland, a charity which supports local communities to obtain real financial benefit from renewable energy installations.

“This is something relevant to Dundee and hopefully we will get some real discussion about it,” said Alistair.

The “flip side” of the Forth Energy plan was looking at ways communities could develop their own energy sources, such as wind turbines and hydro power, he explained.

“There are many examples of communities doing that, but they are not usually urban,” he said.

“But in the face of a big developer you could, for example, turn round and say, ‘Well that’s grand but if you want to build a turbine you can build one for you and one for us’.”

The cash generated would then be ploughed back into the local community, he continued.

“That way, the communities affected would have created a really good resource and could have funding forever for community projects.

“That’s the kind of debate this could hopefully stimulate.”

Forth Energy’s plans for two 127-metre turbines has provoked a storm of protest and pressure group Residents Against Tay Turbines has been set up to take on the company.

Other speakers at next month’s conference include Professor Gokay Deveci, from the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment in Aberdeen, who will discuss his work on the design and construction of low cost sustainable houses in Scotland.