SNP ministers and the Scottish Greens were urged today to set a “stretching but achievable” target to massively increase Scotland’s capacity for solar power as part of formal power-sharing talks.

Solar Energy Scotland argues that such a move could help boost the economy, saying that every gigawatt of new solar capacity creates 500 full-time equivalent jobs.

The organisation has pressed the issue in a letter to both First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens as the two parties are now in discussions on a possible formal co-operation agreement whereby Greens could join the Scottish Cabinet.

Scotland’s response to the climate emergency is one of the areas under discussion in those talks.

Greens environment spokesman Mark Ruskell said the party is “committed to delivering a green recovery from Covid, and supporting the rapid growth of the renewable energy industry will play a central role in this.”

A Scottish government spokesman said it is committed to continuing to work with the solar energy sector to aid continuing growth and deployment.