The Scottish government has announced a new £3 million scheme to create energy-efficient homes in the country.

Under the initiative, loans of up to £10,000 will be made available for technology such as solar panels, heat pumps, micro-generation equipment and biomass boilers. 

With fuel poverty a growing concern in the country, the government has moved to ensure that households are given more access to renewable energy sources to help them reduce their energy bills. 

Furthermore, it will allow residents to access the feed-in tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes for their domestic property, with income earned used to help pay-off the cost of the initial loans. The loans will also be made interest free so that residents are protected from unexpected costs. 

The Scottish government is also set to introduce a voucher for renewable heat systems, which will be offered as a one-off payment. 

Fergus Ewing, energy minister for the Scottish government, said the scheme will be a "huge help" to tackling fuel poverty and would encourage further green investment in the country, as Scotland looks to meet ambitious renewable energy targets. 

"Low-cost, low-carbon heating technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps will cut emissions and support jobs in the manufacturing and installation industry," Mr Ewing added. 

"This investment will also help to boost our micro-generation market, which will also help to create jobs in this fast-growing industry and meet our commitment to deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those communities worst affected by fuel poverty."

He went on to say that as the UK government have pushed the introduction of the RHI to spring next year, the new funding boost will help to provide income for poorer households and cut energy bills in the process. 

"The investment will ensure hundreds of Scottish households get their own sustainable green energy supply and in doing so, they will receive payments for supplying electricity to the national grid or by cashing in a renewable heat premium payment voucher," the minister concluded.