Scaled-back plan for wind farm in Forth gets consent

New scaled-back plans for a controversial offshore wind farm off the east coast have received the go-ahead from Scottish ministers.

The revised design for the £1.8 billion Neart na Gaoithe scheme, set to be built 9.6 miles off the Fife coast in the Firth of Forth, will have a maximum of 54 turbines instead of the previously consented 75.

The devices will be bigger and more powerful than the original versions, using the latest technology to generate the same 450 megawatts of renewable electricity.

Each turbine will stand up to 208m from sea level to rotor tip – 11m taller than the previous incarnation.

The scheme is one of the largest in development in Scotland and will produce enough energy to satisfy the annual electricity consumption of around 375,000 homes.

The project has suffered lengthy delays after a protracted legal battle with conservationists over risks to globally important seabird colonies.

It is one of four massive offshore schemes planned for the Forth and Tay that were originally consented by the Scottish Government in 2014.

The decision was overturned after a legal challenge by the charity RSPB over fears turbines could kill birds such as puffins and kittiwakes, then later reinstated.

The massive wind farm, which was bought over by French firm EDF earlier this year, is expected to be operational by 2023.

Neart na Gaoithe project director Matthias Haag, of EDF Renewables UK, said: “This is great news and we are excited to move forward delivering this milestone project for Scotland, which will provide lowcarbon energy for decades to come.”