Inverness firm Cairngorm Windows said yesterday it had sold £5million-worth of its solar panels in just over a year.
Cairngorm launched the solar business in spring last year, but has since fitted hundreds of photovoltaic panels for customers across the north and north-east.
The company, which employs 80 at its factory in the Longman Industrial Estate, has recruited 10 people in the past year in response to the success of its solar-panel division.
Managing director David Dowling said businesses, guesthouses and homes across the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen had contacted the company.
Cairngorm invested hundreds of thousands of pounds to set up the solar business, he added, but the risk had paid off as more people turn to renewable energy to tackle rising electricity bills.
Mr Dowling said: “It’s boom time for us just now and shows that our initial £500,000 investment in panels was a gamble which has paid rich dividends.
“People are attracted by the fact that photovoltaic adds value to their home or property and reduces their carbon footprint.
“All electricity generated and used is free, plus the UK Government rewards you with payments which are tax-free.”
The government’s Feed-in Tariff support scheme, which encourage low-carbon renewable-energy developments, means households and businesses that instal solar panels receive subsidies for the electricity they generate, and can also sell power they do not use to the National Grid.
Mr Dowling said he expected Cairngorm to add to its workforce further if the popularity of solar panels continued to rise.
He added: “In July, we took in £500,000 from panels and inquiries to our website are currently running at 270 a month.
“The outlook remains highly positive. Our clients are securing a return on capital of 7-9% a year. In addition, their systems store unused power which is free, clean and highly reliable.”
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