The Scottish Government has made it easier for companies investing in renewables by reducing business rates the industry would normally have to pay. Figures show that the relief scheme for renewable energy generators has saved the industry £4 million this year.

The scheme offers discounts on what business pay on their properties of up to 100%. The relief, introduced in 2010, is stepped so that smaller renewables projects receive the highest level of discounts. Around 85 renewable energy properties benefit from the relief and about 50 of these qualify for 100% and pay no business rates at all.

Scottish Energy Minster Fergus Ewing said: “Scotland is leading the world in renewable energy, but if we are to reach our ambitious but achievable goal of generating the equivalent of 100% of our electricity requirements from renewables by 2020, we need businesses and landowners to invest in the technology.”