A SCOTTISH wind farm has marked a “significant milestone” as it provided its first power to the national grid.
The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) wind farm, which is around 10 miles off the coast of Fife, is expected to be fully completed and commissioned by next summer.
The site, which will consist of 54 wind turbines and generate enough energy to power around 375,000 homes, is owned by EDF Renewables UK and ESB.
NnG project director Matthias Haag said: “This is great for the project and is a positive step in achieving the country’s net zero targets.
“We have worked closely with the local communities and we thank them for their patience as we’ve progressed towards this milestone. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the life story of NnG as we work to completion.”
“NnG is a pivotal project in the EDF Renewables UK and Ireland portfolio as we accelerate towards a net zero future where clean energy powers our lives.
“It will continue to bring significant benefits to local communities across the east coast of Scotland through support for local projects and initiatives, the supply chain and through local jobs for local people.”
And Paul Lennon, the head of offshore wind and hydrogen at ESB, added: “NnG is an important project for ESB and we welcome the much-anticipated export of first power from the project. We look forward to the wind farm becoming fully operational next year.
“It will contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions from UK electricity generation, play an important part in the economy of the east coast of Scotland and in turn help deliver on ESB’s net zero ambitions.”
The NnG team said that they had already brought “substantial benefits to many local communities in the east of Scotland”, pointing to community projects they have supported such as the Berwickshire Marine Trust, Dunbar Youth Football Club, Crail Garden Co-op, and the Anstruther Philharmonic Society.
