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Moray West offshore wind farm to be switched on

Getty Images An aerial view of a white offshore wind turbine and a foam on the surface of the sea below the turbine.Getty Images
The Moray Firth is home to a number of large offshore wind projects

An offshore wind farm said to be capable of powering half of Scotland's homes is due to become fully operational later.

Moray West in the Moray Firth has 60 turbines each standing 257m (843ft) above the surface of the sea, making them the tallest turbines to be installed in UK waters according to the operator.

Ocean Winds, the consortium operating the wind farm, said it would have capacity to generate up 882MW of electricity - enough power for 1.3 million households.

About 1,500 jobs were created during construction at the site, which lies about 13 miles (21km) north of Buckie in Moray.

The long blades are laid out at a fabrication yard. There are large buildings in the background and a worker wearing a white hard hat and a reflective jacket walks behind a metal barrier.
Turbine blades laid out in a yard before being installed at Moray West

Moray West is one of a group of three Ocean Winds offshore wind farms in the firth between the coasts of Moray and the east Highlands.

The 100-turbine Moray East has been operational since 2022 and transmits 950MW of electricity onto the National Grid network.

The 2GW Caledonia development is due to come on stream in 2030.

Also in the Moray Firth is the 84-turbine Beatrice offshore wind farm which has been operational since 2019.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray is due to switch on Moray West to full power in a ceremony later.

He said: "Investment like that being made by Ocean Winds is absolutely central to ensuring that Scotland and its workers benefit from the skilled jobs and economic growth that clean energy can bring."

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the project would take the UK closer to meeting its offshore wind targets.

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