Energy Minister Fergus Ewing says ambitious renewables targets are achievable within the eight-year timescale set by the Scottish Government.
The Inverness and Nairn SNP MSP said the country already led the world in the field and its natural resources are “unparalleled”.
He said Scotland had world-class skills and experience developed in the North Sea oil and gas sector to develop the green energy industry.
Mr Ewing said: “The £750million invested in renewable energy in Scotland in the past year alone shows developers have confidence in Scotland’s ability to meet our target.”
Labour energy spokeswoman Rhoda Grant said some leading industry figures, including the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, had cast “serious doubts” over the SNP’s renewables claims.
The Highland and islands MSP said: “There are a plethora of questions the SNP government must answer, not least how it intends to pay for this massive expansion in renewables.
“Having one energy market across the UK means householders across these islands bear the cost of building and operating renewables in Scotland.
“In a separate Scotland, providing the same level of support would lead to massively increased bills or even deeper cuts to the services people depend on locally.”
Liberal Democrat energy spokesman Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, said: “Setting targets is the easy part and we need to be absolutely sure that we now deliver. The job and wealth-creation opportunities for Scotland from fully exploiting its renewables potential are significant.
“Achieving this will require continued joint working at all levels of government and with industry, academia and others.”
