These images show how a £250million floating wind farm off of the north-east coast would look if given the backing of the Scottish Government.
The Kincardine Offshore Wind Farm would be located roughly nine miles out to sea and be one of the biggest renewable projects of its kind if approved.
Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (Kowl) – a company set up by former deputy first minister Lord Stephen and Allan MacAskill, the brother of former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill – are behind the proposals.
Marine Scotland will make the final decision on the plans and the firm hopes it will be reached by the end of the year.
Kowl’s aim is to have the first turbine at sea by spring 2018.
And last night former deputy first minister, Lord Stephen, said the plans would provide jobs for the suffering north-east economy and could fit into £415million proposals to expand Aberdeen Harbour into Nigg Bay.
He added: “It is important for the project that a decision is made on the consent of the Marine Scotland licence by the Scottish Government before the end of the year.
“It is important that we start to make progress with the project early in 2017.
“But the great news is we have got a strong team of contractors, many of them have a background in oil and gas.
“It is significant for the future of Aberdeen in terms of its focus on diversification in the energy sector.
“Some of the work being done at the (Aberdeen) Harbour Board could compliment the future development of building turbines. They can be brought ashore for maintenance.
“There is a real prospect that beyond 2020 there will be a switch to floating because it is more environmentally acceptable.
“It will have less impact on birds offshore and less of an impact on local communities because the turbines will be less visible further offshore and off the horizon.
“They are quite a reasonable distance offshore. Obviously we can’t be complacent, it is important that we work with Marine Scotland and local councils and all other consultees to make sure we provide all the necessary information.”
He added: “The good news is the Brexit vote won’t stop the project from going ahead. It will make some aspects of the project more expensive but a lot of the work is going to be sourced in the UK.”
Each turbine on the floating wind farm would be about 577ft tall.
Earlier this year Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee reviewed the marine application licence for the proposals and heard the wind farm would be visible from Stonehaven, Muchalls and Newtonhill.
