The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation to explore views on proposals for the sustainable use of bioenergy, including growing crops, which can be converted into electricity, heat and fuels.

Bioenergy is already a key component of Scotland's energy system and is produced by using organic material from trees, plants and food waste as a greener source to replace fossil fuels.

A new strategy sets out how bioenergy can be used to reduce emissions, and proposes using some agricultural land specifically to grow crops which can be converted into bioenergy.

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Consultation on the strategy opens today and will run for 12 weeks, seeking views on the opportunities and barriers to using biomass for fuel, as well as the possible use of land to grow the perennial energy crops required for domestic production.

Energy Minister Gillian Martin said: "Bioenergy supports the Scottish Government's commitment to reach net zero by 2045. Research shows if 90,000 hectares of these crops were planted, this could deliver an amount of energy equivalent to powering around 1.3 million homes a year.

"Realising this potential can help to deliver a just transition for our energy sector, and develop a self-sufficient and secure supply chain to enable us to generate more of this greener energy.

"It is vitally important that people engage on this consultation and give us their views."