It has emerged that plans for an offshore windfarm near the Aberdeen coast will be scaled down to allay fears about shipping safety and helicopter operations.

According to a report filed by The Press and Journal, the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) and Swedish utility firm Vattenfall now propose to build around half of the 23 turbines proposed five years ago.

Only less than a month, the wind farm project, a JV between AREG and Vattenfall, was in news for getting a major boost with MEPs approving €40 million for the Aberdeen Bay project. Vattenfall owns 75% of Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Limited.

The project comprises 23 turbines with a maximum turbine height of 150 metres and an individual capacity of up to 5 MW.

Anders Dahl, head of Vattenfall Wind, reportedly, said the firms had “listened very carefully” to stakeholders such as the harbour board and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and taken on board their concerns.

He said: “One of these is maritime safety, but also issues associated with the marine environment and helicopter operations. We now consider it highly likely that we will apply for consent for a smaller scheme as a first phase.”