The development of a massive wind farm off the coast of East Fife that would more than double Scotland’s offshore capacity came a step closer to realisation last week.

Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power is in exclusive talks with an InterGen-led consortium for closing a £2bn deal (€2.6bn) in Scotland for a 450MW offshore wind farm construction.

If the project comes to fruition, the construction phase would create 600 jobs in Scotland and over 100 permanent jobs during the 25-year operational phase, with 75 giant turbines which would create enough energy to power every home in a city the size of Edinburgh (around 500 000 inhabitants).

Besides the Dutch power firm Intergen, other consortium members include Siemens Project Ventures, the Marguerite Fund and Infrared Capital.

Mainstream COO Andy Kinsella said:

“Neart na Gaoithe will generate the cheapest electricity from any offshore wind farm in the UK. All consents have been received; the CfD was awarded; the technology and construction contractors are in place and, very significantly, the required debt funding for the project has been sourced from commercial banks.”

Subject to the outcome of that review Mainstream say their project is expected to be fully commissioned and generating electricity by 2020.