Wind power in Scotland at 10 MW full power 38% of the time (3300 hours per year). In January 2010 contracts were awarded for a major expansion of offshore wind power in the seas around Scotland. Moray Offshore Renewables will develop offshore wind power in the Moray Firth, and SeaGreen Wind Energy will develop offshore wind in the Firth of Forth. These developments could lead to 1,000 new wind turbines generating nearly 5,000 MW of power. Jobs "could also be created in manufacturing, research, engineering, installation, operation and services". In July 2016, RSPB challenged development in the Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay.
Mark Firth opened Firth College to teach arts and science subjects, which later became part of the University of Sheffield. Firth lends his name to the Firth Wing of the Northern General Hospital, and Firth Court of the University. He was a Methodist and a Liberal. On 16 November 1880 Firth was at his Norfolk Works when he suffered a stroke, and died 12 days later. He is buried in Sheffield General Cemetery on Cemetery Road, where his monument is Grade II listed. Firth was twice married and had twelve children. He first married Sarah Bingham Taylor (1818–1855) in Sheffield on 15