The Canadian firm, Talisman Energy, hopes to install up to 120 wind turbines beside its Beatrice oilfield 75 miles north-west of Aberdeen.

The scheme would be able to generate 500 megawatts, providing five per cent of the UK's renewable energy needs.

Talisman says the 90m high turbines would be "barely visible" from onshore.

The company has launched a feasibility study costing £250,000 to examine the technical and economic viability of the project.

The turbines would be 90m high

UK general manager Paul Blakeley said: "We are very much at the infancy stage of such a project, which would have a lead time of several years and with many hurdles to overcome.

"From a purely engineering perspective, we know that it is perfectly possible to develop wind farms on the UK Continental Shelf particularly if, as is the case here, we combine offshore oilfield capability and infrastructure with wind generation technology.

"Such a development in the Beatrice field would be complementary to our existing oil production operations in the Moray Firth."

Talisman believes that the relatively shallow water along with government and public support, make it an "ideal location".

Three sites in the north of Scotland have been provisionally identified as suitable options for connecting the offshore operation to the National Grid.