Highland Council is preparing wide-ranging plans to install solar panels on homes and public buildings across the north.
The authority briefly advertised for contractors last week to carry out the major project – although the invitation to tender has since been withdrawn.
A council spokeswoman said this was so officials could iron out details of the project.
Panels could be fitted on houses, schools, sport centres, industrial buildings and offices under the scheme.
The work would also be open to private home owners and businesses, as well as community groups and social enterprises.
The council has already carried out similar projects to fit solar panels to a number of houses in Inverness, Nairn and Ross-shire, as well as some of its offices, including the Glenurquhart Road headquarters.
A council spokeswoman said: “We are delaying the tender to allow the council to complete further evaluation on the process for due diligence and risk assessment.
“This will mean all aspects can be clear from the potentially diverse tenders that we may receive.
“As soon as this extra work is completed, the tender will be re-published.”
