Issues need to be addressed if Scotland is to achieve its 100% renewable energy target by 2020, according to a new report.

The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee has made recommendations in a number of areas including planning, finance, skills and infrastructure.

The report found local authority planning departments are under pressure due to high volumes of applications.

The Committee said it would support higher fees for larger scale applications, but also said Scottish government needed to explore whether duplication of effort for developers could be minimised.

The report found significant investment in infrastructure would be needed to grow the renewables industry.

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It said the reluctance of some banks to invest was regretful. The Committee has said the UK Government needs to finalise their Renewables Obligation Certificate levels.

Skill shortages were also named as a risk to achieving the target unless investment is focussed on science, technology, engineering and maths at school, college and university level.

The report also focussed on the infrastructure challenges facing some of the more remote parts of Scotland.

It said: "The Scottish islands remain at a disadvantage compared with those on the mainland in terms of the transmission and charging system and this renders many projects uneconomic. The UK Government and OFGEM must remove this unfair disadvantage if they are to ensure that the abundant natural resources in these areas are harnessed."

Convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee Murdo Fraser MSP said: "After a wide ranging inquiry, taking extensive evidence, our Committee has concluded that the electricity target can be achieved but only if the issues outlined in this report are acted upon.

"Our recommendations are crucial to the success of the renewables industry in Scotland, and focus on issues such as access to finance, the planning system, infrastructure development and investment in skills."

(IT)