One of the world’s largest offshore windfarms has been granted consent by the Scottish Government immediately after Donald Trump’s criticism of ‘disastrous ugly windmills’ during his trip to Scotland.
Berwick Bank, located approximately 38km from the Scottish Borders coastline at St Abbs, will have an estimated capacity of 4.1 gigawatts.
At its full installed capacity, Berwick Bank would become the world’s largest offshore wind farm if fully delivered.
Developers have said this could generate enough electricity each year to power every household in Scotland around twice over.
The news comes after the US President's recent four-day trip to Scotland where he repeatedly criticised 'windmills'.
Mr Trump described windfarms as 'expensive' and 'ugly' after he previously objected to 11 turbines planned - and eventually constructed - alongside his Aberdeenshire golf course.
However, the deputy First Minister has said the government giving the green light to projects such as Berwick Bank is "a major step" for Scotland in achieving net zero targets.
The project could increase Scotland’s current operational renewable electricity capacity by almost 25%, boosting the country’s efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045.
The UK Government has also welcomed the move which has the potential to inject approximately £8 billion of value into the UK economy and create over 9,000 UK jobs - with around 4,650 of these jobs in Scotland.
Consent for the construction and operation of the wind farm is still subject to the developer, SSE Renewables, producing a detailed sea bird compensation plan outlining how adverse impacts on seabirds will be compensated for.
This plan will need to be approved by Scottish Ministers ahead of Berwick Bank proceeding.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Ministers have given the Berwick Bank wind farm application extremely careful consideration.
“The decision to grant consent to Berwick Bank is a major step in Scotland’s progress towards achieving net zero and tackling the climate crisis, as well as supporting national energy security and growing our green economy.
“It is also an important decision for Scotland’s renewables sector, and this investment will be further built upon through the delivery of Scotland’s significant future pipeline of offshore wind projects under the ScotWind and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds.
“We will continue to work closely with the developer and key stakeholders, including those working in fishing and conservation – to minimise the impact of the development on the marine environment and other marine users – and balance the needs of people and nature.”
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Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has said he welcomed the move which he said marked a "crucial stage" in the development of the windfarm project.
Mr Murray said: “Since taking office I have prioritised delivering more clean energy jobs in Scotland.
"I welcome this decision, which marks a crucial stage in the development of this project. Berwick Bank has the potential to make a huge contribution to the UK Government's growth and clean energy missions and create clean power jobs in Scotland.
"Scotland is at the front of the race to clean energy across the UK, Berwick Bank would be the world's biggest wind farm just off the East Lothian coast, which underlines the massive potential clean energy has to generate jobs, wealth and opportunity for Scottish families.
"These large-scale renewable energy projects will ensure people in Scotland truly benefit from clean power, lower bills, and good quality job opportunities."
Arriving in Scotland on Friday, Mr Trump told Scotland and the rest of the UK to “stop the windmills” as he said they are “killing the beauty of your country”.
He has been outspoken in his dislike of windfarms, having taken the Scottish Government to court over an offshore wind farm near his Aberdeenshire estate.
Mr Trump said Scotland had the “ugliest windmills I’ve ever seen”, describing them as “ugly monsters” that were “destroying the beauty” of the country.
“When we go to Aberdeen you’ll see some of the ugliest windmills you’ve ever seen.
“They’re the height of a 50-storey building.
“You could take 1,000 times more energy from a hole in the ground. It’s called oil and gas, and you have it in the North Sea.
“You are paying in Scotland, and the UK, and all over place, where they gave them massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place.”
In a press event at his Turnberry resort in Ayrshire over the weekend, Mr Trump said about windfarms: “It is the worst form of energy, the most expensive form of energy, but windmills should not be allowed.”
Out at sea, the offshore wind farm array would comprise up to 307 installed offshore wind turbines across a 1,010 km² marine site.
The wind farm would connect to the UK national grid via two connection points, one at Branxton near Dunbar in East Lothian in Scotland and another at Cambois near Blyth in Northumberland in north-east England.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the announcement means there have been enough wind farms approved in the UK to meet the Government’s ambition of delivering clean power by 2030.
Mr Miliband said: “We welcome this decision which puts us within touching distance of our offshore wind targets to deliver clean power by 2030 – boosting our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
“We need to take back control of our energy and more offshore wind getting the green light marks a huge step forward in Britain’s energy security and getting bills down for good.
“But we know there’s a lot more work to do and we must go further and faster to get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuels and make working people better off with clean, homegrown, secure power as part of our Plan for Change.”
Welcoming the Scottish Government move, SSE has said Berwick Bank said the decision represents the last major consent necessary for the project to proceed and is the culmination of more than a decade of development work by SSE Renewables on the project’s design.
Delivery of the project will now be subject to SSE securing a contract for new low-carbon offshore wind power under the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, as well as reaching a final investment decision.
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director, SSE Renewables said: “The Scottish Government’s decision to grant a consent order for Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm is hugely welcome. At over 4GW of potential capacity, Berwick Bank can play a pivotal role in meeting the mission of Clean Power 2030 for the UK and achieving Scotland’s decarbonisation and climate action goals.
“As the UK’s clean energy champion, SSE now looks forward to the UK Government delivering the most ambitious CfD scheme yet through the upcoming AR7 auction round.
“Berwick Bank has the potential to rapidly scale-up Scotland’s operational renewable energy capacity and can accelerate the delivery of homegrown, affordable and secure clean energy to UK consumers from Scottish offshore wind, helping meet the UK’s clean power ambition by 2030.”
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