Scottish Minister Fergus Ewing said interest free loans will be available for home owners to install renewable heat and electricity technologies, such as heat pumps, solar panels, micro-wind turbines or biomass boilers. 

Households will be able to borrow up to £10,000 depending on the technology and cost of their system.

The funding will be directly targeted at homes in fuel poverty, helping to boost household income. Households are considered to be in fuel poverty if more than 10% of their income is spent on gas and electricity.

The Scottish government hopes the installation of new technologies will help develop Scotland’s micro-generation market and contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

Ewing said: “The investment will ensure hundreds of Scottish households get their own sustainable green energy supply and in doing so they will receive payments for supplying electricity to the national grid or by cashing in a Renewable Heat Premium Payment voucher.

“As well as being a huge help in fighting fuel poverty, this investment will help Scotland become greener. The wide take up of small scale technologies will be vital for helping us to become a truly low carbon economy.

“Low cost, low carbon heating technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps will cut emissions and support jobs in the manufacturing and installation industry.”

Interested homeowners should contact Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282 for impartial advice about renewable technology and to find out more about this funding.