Scottish Renewables sector 'worth £2.8bn' of investment

Scotland's renewable energy industry has released figures indicating it has attracted funding worth £2.8bn since 2009.

Trade body Scottish Renewables said 57% of the total was investment in onshore wind power.

A further 21% was for offshore wind developments with solar, biofuel, wave and tidal power making up the rest.

The industry claimed it has been "bucking the economic trend" since the start of the financial crisis.

Niall Stuart, the chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: "During the downturn our industry has delivered some £2.8bn of much needed capital investment in our economy.

"This has helped to grow the supply chain, secure the future of many companies and support more than 11,000 jobs.

"At a time of sluggish growth, the renewable electricity sector is expanding by more than 10 per cent a year, and now generates the equivalent of 35 per cent of annual demand."

Mr Stuart added: "Onshore wind is the main source of investment, with offshore wind the next biggest driver of spend."