The Hywind project, set to be the world’s largest floating wind farm, features five 6MW turbines which will be deployed in deeper water than any earlier offshore wind turbines around the coast of the UK.
It will cover around 4 square kilometres, at a water depth of 95m to 120m.
Upon completion, the wind farm will provide enough energy for about 20,000 households.
Preliminary on-shore and near-shore work is due to stat later this year and the turbines erection is planned to start in 2017.
The first power from the project is expected to be generated by the end of next year.
Hywind Scotland project director Leif Delp said: "We are very pleased to develop this project in Scotland, in a region with a huge wind resource and an experienced supply chain from oil and gas.
"Through the hard work of industry and supportive government policies, the UK and Scotland is taking a position at the forefront of developing offshore wind as a competitive new energy source."
The project aims to to demonstrate cost efficient and low risk solutions for commercial scale parks. The technology that will be used in the development has been tested with better results in a demonstration project off the coast of Norway.
Image: Model of floating wind farm to be constructed off the coast in Scotland. Photo: Courtesy of Statoil.
