Energy company SSE has submitted a series of proposals to the Scottish Government as Ministers begin to draw up Scotland's new 'Energy Strategy'.

The initiative aims to help Scotland maximise benefits from innovation, cost reductions and new technologies, as well as de-carbonise energy systems and put communities at the heart of new investment.

Six key proposals in the strategy paper include:

• decarbonise heat use in Scotland by increasing the use of district heating systems

• improve the stock of electric storage heaters to aid in the decarbonisation of heat

-- Advertisement --

• build on the success of onshore wind in Scotland through repowering and extending existing sites

• maximise opportunities in large-scale pumped storage projects

• support community investment and ownership in energy projects

• help tackle household fuel poverty through improved energy efficiency measures

In addition, SSE said maintaining a Great Britain-wide energy market is central to the company's position on the future of energy in Scotland.

The company said: "SSE understands it has a responsibility to the customers and communities it serves but with the energy system in Great Britain facing unprecedented changes, the Scottish Government’s strategy needs to be enduring and robust if it is to meet its stated objective of plotting an energy course for Scotland out to 2050.

"With a track record of investing heavily in the GB energy market, SSE is ready to play its part in that journey."

(LM/CD)