A PROJECT to reduce the cost and time it takes to establish offshore wind farms is to benefit from £2.2m of Scottish Government cash.

Nine developers with around 70% of the UK's offshore energy capacity will work to share knowledge and best practice in areas such as building foundations, maintenance of turbines, electrical systems and cable installation.

The Carbon Trust's Offshore Wind Accelerator programme will receive £200,000 in the 2014/15 financial year and £2m in 2015/16.

The announcement was made by First Minister Alex Salmond and will also see developers work on "the commercialisation of floating offshore wind turbines for Scottish waters".