The decision has triggered an agreement for the energy company to acquire joint venture partner Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group’s remaining 25 per cent share for an undisclosed sum and take full ownership of Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Limited, the company behind the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), also known as the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm.

Vattenfall gave the green light yesterday to fully fund the innovative 92.4MW, 11 turbine project. The £300m EOWDC will test and demonstrate cutting-edge offshore wind technology and once operational in 2018 will boost the industry’s drive to competitive clean power.

Gunnar Groebler, senior vice president and head of business area wind at Vattenfall, said: “Vattenfall, AREG, The Crown Estate, the Scottish Government and many others have been working since consent in 2013 to deliver the project and support the increasing competitiveness of the offshore wind sector. Now the Vattenfall team and our contractors will focus on building the project safely and help establish the north east of Scotland as an international centre for offshore wind innovation.

“Vattenfall’s green light for the EOWDC underlines our long term ambition to grow our wind power capacity, including in the UK. The UK Government believes that wind power should continue to provide an essential part of the UK’s low carbon electricity generation mix and so we remain committed to expanding our UK operations. In particular, we are confident that the new UK and Scottish governments will continue to support growth in offshore wind as the industry lowers the cost of energy significantly.”

Chair of AREG and Aberdeen City Councillor, Jean Morrison, said: “AREG is proud to have been a champion and facilitator for this project. As it moves into to the construction phase, it is now truly an industry project and it is appropriate that it be taken forward by our industrial partner Vattenfall.

“This is a big day for the north east of Scotland’s energy industry. The EOWDC is an important element in the strategy to diversify our energy industry, access new international markets, reduce the cost of offshore wind and create and safeguard jobs.

“Now ambitions for our energy industry can begin to become reality.”

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “This is great news for the industry. Scotland is admired around the world for our work in renewable energy.

“This project will keep our nation at the forefront of innovation by allowing energy companies to identify new ways to reduce operating costs.

“We’re working hard to ensure offshore wind projects can help generate the low carbon electricity supply Scotland needs and the associated high quality engineering jobs Scotland wants.

“It’s important to remember that Scotland’s commitment to renewable energy has already helped the country meet our goal of achieving a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions six years ahead of schedule, but we have more to do as a society in setting out to achieve our obligation to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and renewables will be absolutely key to this.”

Paul Wheelhouse, the Scottish Government’s minister for business, innovation and energy, added: “This is great news for the industry. Scotland is admired around the world for our work in renewable energy. This project will keep our nation at the forefront of innovation by allowing energy companies to identify new ways to reduce operating costs.

“We’re working hard to ensure offshore wind projects can help generate the low carbon electricity supply Scotland needs and the associated high quality engineering jobs Scotland wants.”

AREG had the vision in 2003 of a wind farm in Aberdeen Bay. In 2008, the EOWDC was conceived and in 2010 the project partners won a €40mn EU Grant. In 2011 an application for offshore consent for the 11 turbine project was submitted with Scottish Ministers granting permission in 2013. A number of legal challenges to the Scottish Government’s consent decision followed, which were eventually cleared in December 2015.

Onshore construction near Blackdog will start later this year and is due to complete late next year. Works offshore will commence in Aberdeen Bay in late 2017. The project is scheduled to generate first power in spring 2018 and operate for 20 years or more.

Lindsay Roberts, senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “This announcement is great news for Scotland’s offshore wind industry, and together with developments at Levenmouth, Hunterston and Statoil’s Hywind project helps cement Scotland as a hub for innovation in the sector.

“The commitment of both Vattenfall and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group to the EOWDC is to be commended, and plans for the site will help develop the renewable energy supply chain in the North East and across Scotland.

“We have one of the best offshore wind resources in Europe and it’s hugely exciting to see development happening in our waters right now, with hundreds of jobs in offshore wind created in recent months in Campbeltown, Nigg and Wick.”

Fabrice Leveque, WWF Scotland climate and energy policy officer, added: “This is very positive news and provides a welcome boost to Scotland’s offshore wind sector. The commitment means millions of pounds of investment in clean power in the north east, creating new jobs and helping to ensure Scotland continues to build on its successful renewable electricity story. Scotland has 25 per cent of Europe’s offshore wind resource and this new development provides a great opportunity to progress on capturing the benefits at lowest cost and least impact to the environment.

“To ensure many benefits of our renewable energy transition translate to benefits in our housing and transport sectors, the Scottish Government needs to provide a long-term vision for 2030 and set a goal of meeting 50 per cent of all our energy needs from renewables.”