Go-ahead for £2.6billion outer Moray Firth wind farm
90-new jobs are to be created after the go-ahead's been given for an outer Moray Firth wind farm
A major £2.6billion wind farm in waters off the north of Scotland has been given the green light for construction.
The consortium behind the 84-turbine Beatrice offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth has reached financial close on the project.
Work is expected to start at the operations and maintenance factory in Wick in the Highlands and the transmission works in Moray later this year.
Offshore construction will begin next year and the 588-megawatt wind farm is expected to be operational by 2019, generating enough power for 450,000 homes.
Energy giant SSE owns 40% of the project while Danish fund management firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has a 35% stake and China-based SDIC Power owns 25%.
The consortium expects Beatrice to bring a yearly average of 890 jobs to Scotland and boost the UK economy by up to £680million during construction.
Paul Cooley, SSE director of renewables, said: "Contracts have already been placed with many UK-based suppliers and Siemens intend to undertake turbine blade construction from its new manufacturing facility in Hull.
"Around £10million of investment is planned at Wick Harbour to house the wind farm's operations and maintenance facilities, and improving the existing RNLI facilities."
"We expect a peak of around 65-jobs during construction of the O&M base with around 90-long-term jobs anticipated during the operational phase."
Holyrood energy minister Paul Wheelhouse said it was "great news for the industry".
He added: "The Beatrice offshore wind farm has the opportunity to deliver so much to Caithness and Scotland as a whole, in terms of employment and community benefit.
"Scotland's renewables sector is stronger than ever and our early adoption of clean, green energy technology and infrastructure was the right thing to do."
Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: "This project will provide home-grown clean energy boosting skills and create jobs and financial security for working people and their families in Scotland, and across the UK."
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "This single project will quadruple our offshore wind capacity, helping to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions as well as creating jobs and supporting local economic renewal."