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Solar panels hit the high street

Wednesday, 2 August 2006 12:00 AM

For the first time, homeowners will be able to buy solar panels for their homes from the high street.

The electrical retailer Currys has started stocking the panels, which cost around £9,000 for a three bedroom house and are expected to provide half the household's electricity.

Technological advances mean that the solar panels, which are made by the electronics company Sharp, are adapted to the UK climate so that they require daylight, but not necessarily direct sunlight to generate electricity.

Customers investing in solar panels for their home will see instant as well as long-term reductions to electricity bills, as well as a potential increase to the value of their property.

There are also grants available through the Low Carbon Buildings programme to help with the large initial cost.

Philip Davies, the chief executive of the residential housing developers Linden Homes, said: "We welcome the announcement that high street retailers are to make solar panels available to their customers.

"Currently new homes are up to four times more energy efficient than their Victorian counterparts, so as well as house builders creating highly energy-efficient new homes, the wider home-owning population must bring their older homes up to scratch in order to make a significant difference to the UK's carbon emissions."

Linden Homes have been introducing solar panels to several of their developments, and will be experimenting with heat pumps and other alternative energy sources over the coming months.

The panels are available from Currys branches in West Thurrock, Fulham and Croydon.

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