EDINBURGH, Scotland, March 21 (UPI) -- An $11 million energy package will put Scotland at the forefront of the European effort to advance a low-carbon economy, the Scottish energy minister said.
Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather announced an $11.1 million package of programs from the European Regional Development Fund for renewable and low-carbon projects.
He said help from the European Union would help position Scotland at the forefront of research and development in the green energy sector.
"These projects will help us to sustain the economic recovery under way in Scotland and further capitalize on our natural competitive advantages in renewable energy, which are crucial to our future success as a nation," he said in a statement.
The bulk of the funding would target energy-related research and development, with further allocations set aside for offshore renewable energy projects.
"The breadth of projects being supported, from academic-led initiatives to local authority and enterprise agency programs, demonstrate how the development of a low-carbon economy has become central to our growth strategy," added Mather.
