More householders will be able to access grants of up to £4,000 and community groups up to £100,000 to install energy generating equipment including solar panels and heat pumps, Finance Secretary John Swinney announced.

The Scottish Government has tripled funding to help householders, small businesses and local communities generate their own clean energy.

Speaking at Scottish Renewables' annual conference, Mr Swinney announced how the £13.5m of increased support for microgeneration and community renewable initiatives in each of the next three years will be used.

The budget for grants to community projects and for household installations will increase while small businesses will for the first time be able to get loans for microgeneration as well as for energy efficiency measures.

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Mr Swinney said: "We recently announced our intention to introduce a statutory target to reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050, as part of our proposals for Scotland's first Climate Change Bill.

"Everyone has a part to play and the Scottish Government is providing strong leadership by tripling funding support to encourage householders, businesses and community projects to generate their own renewable energy. We want to respond to the growing wish for personal involvement in the global effort to tackle climate change.

"We recently launched a consultation on planning reforms, designed to make it easier for people to install microgeneration equipment on their homes.

"Low carbon technologies in our renewable energy mix, including microgeneration and combined heat and power, will make a significant contribution to Scotland's future prosperity and help build increased, sustainable economic growth.

"By tripling government funding for community microgeneration initiatives and reforming the planning system, the Scottish Government is putting in place the incentives for people to generate their own clean energy and make a contribution to Scotland's sustainable energy future."

(CD/JM)