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Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
"These new measures will slash red tape and help householders cut their energy bills. They will also help reduce emissions at a time when we all need to play our part in tackling climate change.

"Scotland's renewables sector is going from strength to strength. By encouraging greater use of microgeneration technologies we are letting householders play their part in reducing emissions while creating new jobs in an emerging industry. That builds on our economic recovery programme and ensures all government activity, including on planning and regulation, supports economic growth.

"While we cannot have renewable energy equipment anywhere or at any cost, these proposals strike the right balance between allowing small scale renewables and safeguarding the quality of our environment.

"It will also contribute to our efforts to ensure that Scotland's planning system is an aid rather than a barrier to increasing sustainable economic growth."

At present, most householders wishing to install microgeneration equipment must apply to the local planning authority for consent.

However, the introduction of Permitted Development Rights will enable householders to install certain microgeneration equipment - such as solar panels, biomass systems and heat pumps - at their homes without requiring planning permission.

It emerged from the consultation that further work was needed to explore the feasibility of introducing permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and wind turbines. Ministers have therefore decided to commission an independent study to examine the issues in further detail, with recommendations expected before the end of this year.

Permitted development means planning permission is granted as a right and there is no need to apply to the planning authority for consent. Where permitted development does not apply, applicants should continue to seek planning consent under the normal procedures.

The Scottish Government held a 10-week consultation on permitted development for domestic microgeneration from March 2008. It is proposed that solar panels on normal domestic buildings will be allowed under permitted development if installed on a pitched roof or a wall and protruding not more than 200mm.

Permitted development would not apply to the walls of buildings containing flats, but would apply to flat roofs if the panels were less than 1m high and set back 1m from the roof edge. Additional safeguards would apply in conservation areas and world heritage sites where there would not be permitted development on a principal elevation or if visible from a road. Stand-alone solar panels (i.e. not on a building) would be permitted if less than 4m in height and set back the same distance from the boundary as their height. They would not be permitted within the curtilage of listed buildings.

Additional safeguards would apply in conservation areas or world heritage sites where they would not be permitted development if they were visible from a road. Ground source heat pumps and water source heat pumps would be permitted in all areas. Flues for biomass systems, and combined heat and power systems, would be permitted development except in a conservation area or world heritage site if they were visible from a road.