The total installed capacity of solar PV in Scotland reached 179MW in 2015, a rise of 28% since last year.
Analysis of updated feed-in tariff installation figures from Ofgem for December 2015 showed over 40,000 homes and 850 business premises in Scotland now have solar PV arrays fitted.
The northern county of Aberdeenshire led the way with 18.5MW capacity from 4,239 installations.
Solar Trade Association Scotland and WWF Scotland said the Scottish government should do all it can to help encourage the further roll-out of more solar power in Scotland.
Solar Trade Association Scotland John Forster chairman said: “Scotland’s new building regulations are a great example of where Scotland is leading the way, as they are helping to increase the uptake of solar on thousands of new homes every year.
“Having found a way forward on new homes, we’d like to see the Scottish Government bring forward measures to encourage much greater uptake of solar power on the many more existing homes and buildings.”
The organisations said that the installations would help to prevent thousands of tonnes of climate-damaging carbon dioxide from being emitted every year.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks added: “Although the total installed solar capacity is small when compared to wind energy, we should remember that collectively these solar panels are helping to prevent thousands of tonnes of climate-damaging emissions being emitted every year.”
According to the Energy Savings Trust, a typical home solar PV system could save over a tonne of carbon dioxide per year.
Image: a Scottish PV array near Arbroath (British Solar Renewables)
