The money is available as interest-free loans to help people install renewable heat and electricity systems. They can borrow up to £10,000 to help with the cost of installing devices such as solar panels, micro wind turbines or biomass boilers.

Renewable-heat premium payment vouchers, one-off payments to householders to help them buy green heating technologies, are also available.

"As well as being a huge help in fighting fuel poverty, this investment will help Scotland become greener,” said energy minister Fergus Ewing. “The wide take-up of small-scale technologies will be vital for helping us to become a truly low-carbon economy.

“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.This investment will also help to boost our micro-generation market. [...] With the UK government delaying its domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme until at least spring 2014, our funding boost will make sure households, especially those in fuel poverty, are able to increase their income through renewable technologies.”