Solar power boost

Almost 400 new UK homes will be powered by solar energy after help from a £4m government grant. The initiative, to be announced tomorrow by the Energy minister Brian Wilson, is part of government plans to create a £1bn market for renewable energy by 2010. Over the next two years, £100m will be spent on renewable technologies, including wind, solar and wave power.

Persimmon, the house- builder, and BP Solar are two companies involved in the project, which will build solar panels on the roofs of new homes, similar to the panels seen on the Big Brother house.

A total of 23 developments, including flats, houses and bungalows, will be built with solar panels to produce electricity. Other beneficiaries of the grant include the Oxford-based Intersolar Group, Filsol Group in Wales and Wind and Sun in Hertfordshire.

The Government has been trying to persuade other companies such as Shell to invest further in renewable energy in the UK. Shell has already earmarked up to $1bn (£690m) for worldwide renewable energy projects.