Renewable energy is now Scotland's main source of electricity, new figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have revealed.

A total of 49.7% of electricity was generated by the sector in 2014.

Industry body Scottish Renewables said the data was a "clear sign of how important renewables have become to our energy sector."

Scotland has set a target to generate 50% of its energy from the renewable sector in 2015, with the view to generate 100% by 2020.

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Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, Joss Blamire, said: "These new figures confirm that in 2014 Scotland produced the equivalent of 49.7% of its electricity from renewable energy – the highest proportion ever, and up almost 12% on 2013.

"These latest UK Government figures are a clear sign of how important renewables have become to our energy sector."

Mr Blamire added: "While we are now almost half way to our 2020 goal of producing the equivalent of 100% of our electricity from renewables, the second half of the target is going to be much harder to achieve than the first.

"To see further progress, both the UK and Scottish Governments must now put renewables at the heart of their energy policy in terms of cutting carbon emissions, reducing bills for consumers and increasing our energy security."

(LM/MH)