Go-ahead for Moray Firth windfarm

THE Scottish Government has given the green light to an offshore windfarm in the Outer Moray Firth.

Together with the planning permissions for the associated onshore electricity transmission infrastructure which were granted earlier this year, the marine consent for Moray West completes the suite of consents necessary to allow the project to enter the UK Government’s next Contract for Difference (CfD) Auction, which will be held this summer.

Subject to winning a CfD, construction on Moray West will begin in 2022. Moray West is a sister development to the adjacent Moray East Offshore Windfarm, which was granted consent in 2014 and is now under construction.

Dan Finch, director of Moray West, said: "Moray West follows hot on the heels of Moray East, which is currently under construction and will supply power to the grid at less than half the price of offshore windfarms installed to date. Moray West is a vital part of the pipeline of projects necessary to support investment in the UK supply chain, making it competitive on a global basis.

"We look forward to working with the local economy as we enter the auction which will establish Moray West as the next high-capacity, low-cost, low-carbon generation project in Scotland. The project will also be a major step towards the strengthened target in the revised Scottish Climate Change Bill of net zero carbon emissions by 2045."

It is expected the 100-turbine windfarm could create up to 150 jobs.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.