Wind turbines on Forth get green light

HUNDREDS of wind turbines will be built in the Firth of Forth under plans given the go-ahead today.

Developers have been granted rights to build huge offshore wind farms in nine locations around the British coast.

Together they are expected to generate up to 32 GW of electricity – the equivalent of 18 new coal-fired power stations and a quarter of UK demand – by 2020.

The Forth development will be carried out by a consortium called Seagreen Wind Energy, made up of Airtricity and Fluor.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said: "This is one of the strongest signals that Scotland is at the heart of the UK's commitment to a low-carbon, energy-secure future."

Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, said the announcement was "an extremely important development for Scotland".

Developers will still have to apply for planning permission before they can build the wind farms. Construction is expected to start from 2014.