scotland

The Scottish government has been urged to throw its weight behind the country’s solar industry after what WWF Scotland labelled a “landmark year” for renewables.

The first and largest solar farm in Scotland, built by family ice cream company Mackie’s, has hit one year of electricity generation.

The solar industry was singled out for cuts in subsidy support by the UK government, new Scottish energy minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP told a conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

The UK government should make clear its views on a subsidy-free market stabilisation model for technologies left out of the Contracts for Difference scheme, according to the latest select committee report to criticise the government’s handling of the renewables industry.

Scottish energy minister Paul Wheelhouse is said to be seeking urgent talks with the UK government following its decision to scrap the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in favour of a new business-led department.