the South West over the following decade. The scheme will be a part of a bigger initiative called Solar Region, which should target the South West, and that has been given the full support of REGEN SW the tolerable energy agency for the South West.

It is founded on Germany's successful Freiburg Solar Area that has been in existence for at least 10 years and has brought varied advantages to the local environment and economy. "We'll be holding a launch for Bristol Solar Town this autumn, and delegates from Freiburg will be coming to Bristol to share their experiences," announces Kerry, 34, who is general boss of solar sense in Long Ashton. "The idea is to get Bristol set up as the capital of the Solar Area, and then try to roll-out to supply Solar Town standing to places such as Exeter and Plymouth. We might like to see a solar coaching centre brought to Bristol, and to extend the technical expertise base that we already have. Ideally, we would also love to see some producing and supply corporations for the industry brought to the town, too.

" A steering group is currently organizing the cross-party consultation event that will occur in Bristol this autumn, which should bring together all prospective partners and delivery agencies. "The target is to install ten thousand solar roofs in the Solar Area by 2020, which is a stiff challenge, but realizable by hard work," claims Kerry,
"The Bristol area is the best place for solar energy, as we have the luxury of a lot of sunlight and low pollution and cooling south-westerly winds, which is ideal for solar generating panels as they work the best when there's clear, crisp sunlight.

"London is in the same latitude, but it is less OK for solar energy panels because there's so much pollution and kept heat." Interest in solar power has increased after the Regime brought in the Clean Energy Cash back scheme, whereby householders and entrepreneurs with low-carbon technology like solar power or air turbines receive payment for the electricity they produce, regardless of whether it's used by them themselves. Solar cells using photovoltaic (PV) cells to capture the sun's energy cost a median of £10,000 to install.

According to official figures, with a normal 2.5-kilowatt solar installation, a home-owner could receive up to £900 and save £140 a year on their electricity bill under the cash back scheme. But householders in the Bristol area could get less expensive systems on account of the Bristol Solar Town scheme.

Kerry explains: "it might make a density of solar in the area which would naturally bring down the installed price for owners over the next 5 or so years. "The scheme would help install solar on social housing, as local authority and housing associations would install as a part of this program, and savings on utility bills will be passed to renters.Bristol is known as a green town and is home to home to the Soil organisation, Sustrans, and the Environment Agency.

There's each reason to expect its economy would benefit further from being a solar town, as other cities concerned in solar initiatives have attracted more solar and environmental sector jobs, ".