A solar powered plane has made its first night flight in an attempt to prove the technology could be commercially viable.

The Solar Impulse HB-SIA has four electric motors powered by 12,000 solar cells built into wing span as wide as a Boeing 747's.

Soon after take off the plane reached an altitude of 8,500 metres, and about two hours before sunset on Tuesday (July 6) started a slow descent.

Eventually reaching an altitude of around 1,500 metres where it carried on flying, using the energy stored in its batteries, until the next sunrise and landing in the early hours of Wednesday.

Householders will soon be able to enjoy tax-free returns above 8pc, add to the value of their property and do their bit to help the planet.

Perhaps it was inevitable that Britain would experience the coldest winter in decades as political bigwigs returned from the Copenhagen summit on global warming. But, despite falling temperatures and rising scepticism, it seems householders will soon be able help the environment and gain electrifying returns.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband today announced the feed-in tariff (FITs) levels and also published a blueprint for a similar scheme to be introduced in April 2011 to incentivise low carbon heating technologies. The renewable heat incentive (RHI) will be a world first.

The schemes are designed to bring about a significant increase in the amount of locally produced green energy, as a contribution to the wider shift of the energy mix to low carbon.

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has applied for planning permission to build a flower-shaped eco-home in Bolton.
Neville, wants to build a four-bedroom, single-story house with a wind turbine, solar panels and ground-source heating.
It will be 8,000 square feet, mostly submerged in the Pennines and covered in a grass roof, making it partially invisible.

EADS Astrium says the satellite system would collect the Sun's energy and transmit it to Earth via an infrared laser, to provide electricity.
Space solar power has been talked about for more than 30 years. However, there have always been question marks over its cost, efficiency and safety.
But Astrium believes the technology is close to proving its maturity.

The delegation attending the World Future Energy Summit from Switzerland will be unveiling the first ever solar powered aircraft. Bertrand Piccard, President and Pilot, Solar Impulse, will be exhibiting a model of the solar powered aircraft at the event later this month in Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre.
A Swiss pavilion will accommodate many of Switzerland’s leading renewable energy companies who will be there to showcase the latest products and solutions of the renewable energy sector.

Sandia National Laboratories scientists have developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used.

The tiny cells could turn a person into a walking solar battery charger if they were fastened to flexible substrates molded around unusual shapes, such as clothing.

We are pleased to confirm, following today's Pre-Budget Report, that earnings from the tariffs will be free of income tax for householders who install systems for their own energy production.

Extract from Chancellor's speech:
"From April, people with a home wind turbine or solar panels who plug their excess power into the national grid, will receive on average £900 a year.
I intend to make this payment tax free."

Extract from Pre-Budget Report:

A sustainable energy initiative that will start with a huge solar project in the Sahara desert has been announced by a consortium of 12 European businesses.

The Desertec Industrial Initiative aims to supply Europe with 15% of its energy needs by 2050.

Companies who signed up to the $400bn (£240bn) venture include Deutsche Bank, Siemens and the energy provider E.On.

The consortium, which will be based in Munich, hopes to start supplying Europe with electricity by 2015.

We live in an old terraced house on a cloudy, rainy island. Yet the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on our roof, put up two years ago, are supplying around 90% of all the electricity used by my family.

The initial cost is high, but don't let that put you off. Two key developments in recent months have made it worth considering solar PV panels.