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The Scottish government has consented to the development of two adjacent offshore wind farms in the outer Moray Firth.
Combined the Moray Offshore Renewables Limited (MORL) and the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (BOWL) will be the world’s third largest offshore wind farm, with up to 326 wind turbines.
The developments, worth up to £2.5 billion to the Scottish economy, sited off the Caithness coast, will be capable of generating up to 1,866 MW of electricity, enough to power over one million homes.
Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, said: “Scotland has the potential to lead the development of an exciting, new renewables industry as offshore wind moves into deeper waters. Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland; an opportunity to build up new industries and to deliver on our ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets.”
“Offshore wind has been delayed by the process of the UK Government’s Electricity Market Reform, but these two consents today offer tangible progress towards real investment opportunity in Scotland.”
WWF Scotland welcomed the announcement but said developers must work with stakeholders to avoid or minimise any impacts on the marine environment.
Gina Hanrahan, Climate and Energy Policy Officer at WWF Scotland, said: “Climate change is the biggest threat facing our oceans and seas globally, and is already impacting on Scotland’s marine environment. It’s therefore vital that we find ways to harness the clean energy that marine renewables, such as offshore wind, can provide.”
The Scottish government said the consents had been granted subject to “strict” environmental conditions.
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