A £50 million fund for green energy projects to help heat homes across the country has been launched with two trial schemes.
Biomass heating schemes in Glasgow and the Highlands will be the first to benefit from the Warm Homes Fund, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced.
Biomass uses waste products rather than fossil fuels to produce heat and electricity.
The projects run by West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative in Glasgow and West Highland Housing Association in Oban will help around 550 households heat their homes more cost effectively.
More councils and housing associations are being asked to submit bids for the fund which will provide grants and loans for the installation of renewable energy measures such as biomass, hydro schemes, wind turbines and solar water heating.
Any income generated will be used to improve the energy efficiency of council and housing association properties.
Mrs Burgess said: "Innovative green energy schemes like the two I have announced today can help households to heat their homes more cost effectively. And by asking councils and housing associations to reinvest profits into making homes easier to heat, we can ensure older, colder homes are made easier to keep warm.
"While we are doing all we can, prices rises from energy companies remain a huge concern. That is why we are urging the UK Government - who has responsibility in this area - to take a firmer stance with energy companies to do more to help vulnerable people and ensure that our households are better protected."
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