Harbour bosses at Fraserburgh have revealed plans for a multimillion-pound wind turbines project.
The scheme would see a pair of 325ft masts installed at the quayside, generating enough electricity to power thousands of homes.
Fraserburgh harbour commissioners say the plan will help sustain the future of the port, which has been hit by a downturn in fishing over recent years.
Money made by selling off power to the National Grid would be reinvested in the harbour and could help pay for essential repairs and improvements.
The announcement comes just days after harbour chiefs were awarded £7.5million in European Union funds for a project to deepen the harbour, offering better access to more boats.
The £2.4million scheme is similar, albeit slightly smaller, to proposals unveiled by harbour chiefs at Peterhead just over a year ago.
The Fraserburgh plans went on show in the town’s Fishermen’s Mission hall. Feedback from the public will be used when drawing up a planning application, which is expected to be tabled with Aberdeenshire Council in the new year.
Harbour superintendent John Murison said commissioners had been working on the plan for about a year.
He said: “This is a great way for us to make Fraserburgh harbour more sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint.
“The Fraserburgh economy is heavily reliant on fishing – more so than anywhere else in this area – and this scheme will help us diversify and create new opportunities, ensuring the harbour will continue to play a key role in the industry.
We hope this will lead to more boats in the harbour using onshore power points, rather than running on diesel engines.”
Harbourmaster Andrew Ironside said the turbines had been designed to fit in with the industrial quayside area. If the plans go ahead, they will be installed at the South Breakwater and at the rear of Harbour Road, north of the caravan park.
The harbour board has teamed up with clean-energy firm Green Cat Renewables, which has also been involved with the Peterhead plan.
Consultant Bruce Taylor said: “Fraserburgh is a great location for wind turbines. We refer to it as a class one site, meaning it’s the best you can get for wind power.
“A lot of work has gone into planning this and carrying out assessments on such things as noise and shadow flicker.”
He said the turbines could be in place by early 2013.
They would have a lifespan of 25 years and would have an electricity output of around 4,730MWh each year.
Fraserburgh community council member Ronnie McNab said he had yet to see the plans, but would discuss them with fellow members in the coming weeks.
The twin turbines scheme announced by Peterhead Port Authority in November last year is said to be crucial for the future development of the harbour and is expected to provide a major boost to the local economy.
Money from the project will also go into a sustainability fund, which will be run by a local charity on behalf of the commissioners. Community groups will be able to apply for funding for local projects.
It has been criticised by some locals however, including members of the community council, who say the turbines will tower over harbourside properties.
The Peterhead plan is expected to be brought before local councillors in the coming weeks.
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