Gone with the wind

THE world’s first floating wind farm has opened off the Scottish coast near Aberdeen.

Wind turbines often receive criticism for spoiling the view of natural landscapes.

But the $324 million scheme avoids such issues by being 24km out to sea – meaning they are practically out of sight from the shore.

The pioneering floating turbines are tethered in deep water off the coast of Peterhead, where wind speeds average 34kmh. Conventional, fixed turbines need to be sited in shallow waters near the shore.