The move to increase funding will provide a further 500 homes with solar panels.

So far a total of 1,513 solar panels have been installed on homes, with tenants free to use the energy generated.

This funding will bring the total number of Stirling Council houses with solar panels up to over 2,600 and will assist in ensuring the houses meet the new Energy Efficiency Standards which are to be introduced in 2020.

Councillor Evelyn Tweed, housing portfolio holder, welcomed the decision: “This is great news. The acceleration of our solar programme means that more Stirling Council tenants will feel the benefits of reduced electricity bills sooner than we had originally planned and is part of our work to tackle fuel poverty across the Stirling area.”

Councillors agreed to approve the acceleration of the Renewables Technology Programme by bringing forward the £2m allocated for 2018-19 into the current year.