Solar power systems rose by 28% in Scotland last year, but the Scottish Government has been challenged to make prospects for sun energy even brighter.
WWF Scotland and the Solar Trade Association Scotland have revealed that the total installed capacity of solar photo-voltaic (PV) systems north of the Border has now reached 179 megawatts (MW).
Fife has the third biggest amount in Scotland at 13.3MW, and Perth and Kinross has 9.3MW of systems. Angus has 8.8MW and Dundee 2.5MW.
More than 40,000 homes and 850 business premises in Scotland now have solar PV arrays. The total installed solar PV capacity on homes now stands at 159MW.
The organisations said the installations would help to prevent thousands of tonnes of climate-damaging carbon dioxide from being emitted every year.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “Despite the challenges facing the industry, it’s fantastic to see so many homes and businesses embracing solar power.
“Although the total installed solar capacity is small when compared to wind energy, we should remember that collectively these solar panels are helping to prevent thousands of tonnes of emissions every year.”
He believed an ever greater uptake of renewable technologies will be needed after the UN climate talks in Paris.
He called on the Scottish Government to do all it can to help ensure Scotland switches on to the full potential of solar power.
John Forster of the Solar Trade Association Scotland welcomed the growth of solar power in new homes, but said: “It’s critical we find a way to encourage the use of solar on existing buildings.
“We’d like to see the Scottish Government bring forward measures to encourage much greater uptake of solar power on the many more existing homes and buildings.”
Offering an alternative view, energy policy adviser Stuart Paton said: “Scotland has to develop its energy policy beyond a fixation on wind power and point scoring with Westminster.
“Climate change does require a decarbonisation of energy but support for nuclear power, unconventional gas and increased emphasis on reducing energy usage is required to meet the challenges of the coming decades.”