The energy giant behind the UK’s nuclear revival will deepen its offshore wind ambitions with a major deal to buy a controversial Scottish wind project.

EDF Energy, the Hinkley Point developer, is understood to have paid around half a billion pounds to buy the project, just months after its developers won a three-year legal battle to move the project forward.

Mainstream Renewable Power was first granted permission for the Neart na Gaoithe wind farm in 2014, but faced a barrage of opposition from the RSPB which claimed the wind farm’s 64 turbines would endanger local birdlife off the coast of Fife.

The developer claimed victory in November last year after reducing the number of turbines to 54, and said on Thursday that it is “delighted to be handing over” the project.

The £2bn wind farm will require another £1.5bn of investment from EDF to construct the turbines which are expected to generate enough electricity to power 375,000 homes.