Scottish Renewables has said more work needs to be done if the country is to meet its 2020 renewable heat target.

The call follows the publication of the Scottish Government's draft Heat Generation Policy Statement as well as a debate in the Scottish Parliament on renewable heat.

Commenting on the issue, Stephanie Clark, Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables explained: "With heat accounting for more than half of the energy Scotland uses every day, we have a steep hill to climb if our ambitious renewable heat target is to be met.

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"In order for 11% of our heat to come from renewables by 2020, industry and government need to come together to deliver many of the proposals contained in the draft Heat Generation Policy Statement."

Ms Clark continued: "We need district heating, biomass, geothermal energy, solar thermal systems and heat pumps to become commonplace in homes, businesses and on industrial sites across Scotland – a process which will create hundreds of jobs and drive a step-change in the way Scotland thinks about keeping warm.

"These renewable technologies will also play a key role in reducing fuel poverty as well as cutting carbon emissions from the fossil fuels currently used to generate much of our heat."

(JP)