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.

SunPower Corp, a manufacturer of high- efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced that its industry-leading solar cells will power PlanetSolar's new solar catamaran. The solar boat, currently under construction, is expected to be the largest of its kind and will be powered exclusively by SunPower's high-efficiency solar cells.

As part of the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan the Government has announced the details of the proposed feed-in tariff for electricity generated through renewable energy systems, like solar photovoltaics.

The new tariff will pay for ALL electricity generated by your system, irrespective of if you use it yourself or sell it back to the grid. The amounts paid are in addition to any saving you will make by purchasing less electricity from your supplier and any income you earn from selling your surplus power to your electricity supplier.

The key points of the announcement are: