New rules designed to help homeowners, schools and hospitals to install climate-friendly generators will be announced today by the Energy Minister.

Malcom Wicks will give details of the funding as part of changes to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme in which the cap on grants will be raised to 50 per cent of the costs.


The scheme is to be extended from tomorrow to give households more time to obtain grants. It takes effect just a few days before planning rules change to cut red tape surrounding the installation of solar panels and other forms of microgeneration.

Mr Wicks will announce the changes to the grants system during a visit to Hampton Hill Junior School, in Richmond, southwest London, which was given a £15,000 grant to help to install 50 solar panels, which are intended to cut heating costs by up to 40 per cent.