Offshore wind farm starts generating power

Neart na Gaoithe wind farm is almost 10 miles (15.5km) out to sea

A wind farm off the coast of Fife, opposed by RSPB Scotland because of concerns over migratory birds, has started generating power into the national grid.

Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) wind farm, which is almost 10 miles (15.5km) from the coast, is expected to be completed and fully commissioned by next summer.

When finished, it will have 54 wind turbines generating up to 450 MW of electricity - enough to power around 375,000 homes.

NnG, which is owned by EDF Renewables UK and ESB, will offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

RSPB Scotland had argued the farm put birds such as gannets at risk

In 2017 RSPB Scotland lost its long-running legal challenge against the plans, which saw it take the the matter to the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

It had argued the farm put birds such as puffins, gannets and kittiwakes at risk.

Matthias Haag, NnG project director, said the beginning of power generation was "great for the project and... a positive step in achieving the country's net zero targets."

He added that over the 25-year lifespan, about 50 high-quality jobs would be created and based there.

Aedan Smith, RSPB Scotland head of policy and advocacy, said he recognised the development of offshore wind projects was crucial to help tackle climate change.

"However, Scotland's globally important seabirds are already under threat from a range of sources and additional harm from new wind farms could be huge," he said.

"RSPB Scotland therefore opposed Scottish Minister's decision to approve the Neart na Gaoithe wind farm in 2014 because the risk to seabirds was just too great.

"Since then, we have been working constructively with Neart na Gaoithe and other offshore wind farms to help reduce harm to seabirds."