Britain will require Scotland's green efforts in order to reach its energy efficiency targets, according to the Scottish energy minister.

Fergus Ewing explained that because of its objective of generating 100 per cent electricity from renewables by 2020, the country will, on its own, meet 30 per cent of the UK government's aims for renewable electricity.

"The United Kingdom needs Scotland's renewable energy whatever the constitutional future holds – and we will all be much poorer if we do not make the most of the renewable energy revolution," Mr Ewing explained.

He went on to say that renewable energy is vital to all of the UK in order for bills to be kept low for ordinary families and for the economy to be boosted.

Scotland has a key role to play in Britain's energy efficiency targets, with seven gigawatts of renewable projects currently operational in the country.

It is also predicted that the UK has sufficient capacity in its planning system to meet up to three-quarters of its electricity demand.