Feed-in tarrif to boost renewable energy sector

More than 195,000 wind turbines could spring up around Britain over the next 12 years after the government promised to pay people for generating their own power.

A German-style feed-in tariff will see people who generate power through renewable sources be paid for their efforts.

House builders have claimed the tariff could make zero carbon housing easier to achieve, as it would encourage more investment in renewable technologies.

The Energy Savings Trust said if the tariff was introduced by the end of 2009, then 8.6m people could install low carbon technologies, reported the Daily Telegraph.