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Scottish businesses that generate renewable energy saved around £4m this year through a business rates relief scheme, according to new figures.
The Scottish government published analysis of the tax break this week revealing that its discounts on business rates for generators of renewable energy saved the green businesses around £4m in 2011-12, potentially freeing up money to reinvest.
The scheme, which operates in Scotland but not England and Wales, offers business rates discounts of between 2.5 per cent and 100 per cent depending on the rateable value of the property.
Smaller renewables projects receive the highest level of discounts, providing an incentive for firms to deploy onsite wind turbines or solar panels.
According to the figures, around half of the businesses benefiting from the tax break qualified for 100 per cent relief.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing claimed that the figures demonstrate a clear business case for landowners to install on-site renewables.
"If we are to reach our ambitious but achievable goal of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of our electricity requirements from renewables by 2020, we need businesses and landowners to invest in the technology," he said.
"These new figures show the success of our measures to give rates relief for renewable energy generators. Thanks to rates relief, £4m has been freed up this year for further investment in the development and deployment of green energy technologies."
Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart explained that the rates relief scheme has been particularly important to small-scale developments, many of which are community-owned.
"It is contributing to attracting investment to Scotland and an important part of the support for community projects as the government seeks to deliver 500MW of community renewables developments by 2020," he said.
Scottish businesses that generate renewable energy saved around £4m this year through a business rates relief scheme, according to new figures.
The Scottish government published analysis of the tax break this week revealing that its discounts on business rates for generators of renewable energy saved the green businesses around £4m in 2011-12, potentially freeing up money to reinvest.
The scheme, which operates in Scotland but not England and Wales, offers business rates discounts of between 2.5 per cent and 100 per cent depending on the rateable value of the property.
Smaller renewables projects receive the highest level of discounts, providing an incentive for firms to deploy onsite wind turbines or solar panels.
According to the figures, around half of the businesses benefiting from the tax break qualified for 100 per cent relief.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing claimed that the figures demonstrate a clear business case for landowners to install on-site renewables.
"If we are to reach our ambitious but achievable goal of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of our electricity requirements from renewables by 2020, we need businesses and landowners to invest in the technology," he said.
"These new figures show the success of our measures to give rates relief for renewable energy generators. Thanks to rates relief, £4m has been freed up this year for further investment in the development and deployment of green energy technologies."
Scottish Renewables chief executive Niall Stuart explained that the rates relief scheme has been particularly important to small-scale developments, many of which are community-owned.
"It is contributing to attracting investment to Scotland and an important part of the support for community projects as the government seeks to deliver 500MW of community renewables developments by 2020," he said.
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