First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday announced a new set of targets for the production of renewable energy in Scotland, including increases in renewable energy sources for heating and transportation.

The framework aims to meet the EU target for 20 per cent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, on top of the Scottish Government pledge for 50 per cent of electricity to be produced from renewables by 2020.

Renewable fuel for transport is planned to increase from its existing level of one per cent up to ten per cent, although some environmentalists have recently been critical of the environmental impact of first generation biofuels.

"The Renewable Energy Framework takes us closer to our vision of Scotland becoming the green energy capital of Europe by maximising the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy," Salmond said.

The plans include an extra £2 million of funding for the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme, as well as increasing by ten times the proportion of energy for heating that is produced from renewable sources.

"Tackling climate change presents huge opportunities for Scotland, and despite the current economic slowdown the country's renewable energy sector is booming. Renewable energy is at the heart of this Government's vision of increasing sustainable economic growth and development," the First Minister added.

"In recent weeks I have announced £1 billion of investment in renewable projects including the Clyde windfarm, Crystal Rig windfarm and ScottishPower's plans to use the Pentland Firth to generate green electricity.

"I am confident we will meet our interim target of 31 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2011 and with our rich renewables resources we could exceed the 50 per cent target by 2020," he concluded.

Last week the First Minister said the Pentland Firth could become "the Saudi Arabia of marine power" after building commercial energy developments in that body of water was approved by the Crown Estate.