Eight energy projects have received approval from the Government, it has been announced.

The schemes are expected to support some 8,500 jobs.

Among the projects being given the go ahead, is the Beatrice offshore wind farm, located at Outer Moray Firth in Scotland.

The contracts, which were announced by the UK's Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey, include offshore wind farms, coal-to-biomass conversions and a dedicated biomass plant with combined heat and power. They are the first projects to be awarded under Contracts for Difference (CfD), which forms part of UK Government's Electricity Market Reform programme.

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Mr Davey has said the schemes would attract around £12bn in private investment and help power up to three million homes.

In a statement, he added: "These contracts for major renewable electricity projects mark a new stage in Britain's green energy investment boom.

"By themselves they will bring green jobs and growth across the UK, but they are a significant part of our efforts to give Britain cleaner and more secure energy.

"These are the first investments from our reforms to build the world's first low carbon electricity market – reforms which will see competition and markets attract tens of billions of pounds of vital energy investment whilst reducing the costs of clean energy to consumers."

(JP/MH)