An ambitious plan to expand Scotland's renewable energy output over the next decade, to meet and exceed European Union targets, has been launched by the First Minister.

Alex Salmond set out the Scottish Government's Renewable Energy Framework yesterday at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness.

The plan includes a tenfold increase for heat and the use of renewable fuel for transport, such as biodiesel, to increase from less than 1% now to 10%. This will work towards the EU target of 20% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

The latest figures, for 2006, show renewables account for 16% of electricity consumption, but for far smaller proportions of the power used in heat and transport, which the government said it intends to address.

The plans are supported by £2m of new funding for the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme, which is expected to attract investment and create jobs for Scotland's energy sector.

Mr Salmond said: "Renewable energy is at the heart of this government's vision of increasing sustainable economic growth and development.

"In recent weeks I have announced £1bn of investment in renewable projects including the Clyde wind farm, Crystal Rig wind farm and ScottishPower's plans to use the Pentland Firth to generate green electricity.

"I am confident we will meet our interim target of 31% of our electricity from renewables by 2011 and with our rich renewables resources we could exceed the 50% target by 2020."