The two projects, developed by Moray Offshore Renewables Limited (MORL) and the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (BOWL), will consist of up to 326 wind turbines. The developments will be sited off the Caithness coast and will be capable of generating up to 1,866MW of electricity, enough to power over one million homes. The facility will be worth up to £2.5 billion to the Scottish economy.
The consents granted by the Scottish Government are subject to strict conditions which will mitigate and monitor a range of potential impacts, including in relation to birds and other environmental considerations. The developers will therefore have to undertake local, regional, and strategic bird monitoring and have to comply with a number of plans such as the Environmental Management Plan and the Operation and Maintenance Programme to ensure effective mitigation takes place.
“Scotland has the potential to lead the development of an exciting, new renewables industry as offshore wind moves into deeper waters” Fergus Ewing said. “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. These wind farms alone could generate gross value worth up to £2.5 billion over their lifetime and generate up to 4,600 jobs during peak construction and up to 580 once in operation.”
Mr Ewing added that offshore wind has so far been delayed by the process of the UK Government’s Electricity Market Reform but that the two consents offer tangible progress towards real investment opportunity in Scotland. The development of an offshore wind sector in Scotland could lead to a potential inward investment of £30 billion and support up to 28,000 direct jobs and a further 20,000 indirect jobs, generating up to £7.1 billion for the Scottish economy
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