Winds of change as event starts

The future of renewable energy is the focus of the conference

The number of turbines for Aberdeen's proposed offshore wind farm is set to be scaled down, it has been announced.

The news came as the UK's largest renewable energy conference and exhibition opened in the city.

The two-day All-Energy '09 event has attracted hundreds of exhibitors from across the world.

The start of the conference coincided with plans being submitted to build Scotland's biggest community wind farm, in Shetland.

It is a joint venture for 150 turbines between Scottish and Southern Energy and the island community.

It is estimated the Viking Energy project could generate £37m a year for the community and create hundreds of jobs during the construction phase.

But more than 2,500 people have signed a petition against the wind farm, arguing it would be too big and blight the landscape.

The European Commission has already announced plans to invest 40 million euros in the Aberdeen Bay offshore wind farm project.

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