GREEN homeowners will be able to sell electricity generated from their solar panels and wind turbines under new rules which come into force this week.

The Energy Bill paves the way for the "feed-in tariffs" which it is hoped will act as a major incentive for families, small firms and public bodies to invest in the environmentally friendly technology.

Experts in the Westcountry are predicting a massive expansion in the number of individuals and communities choosing to install small-scale green power plants on their property and there has already been a boom in the number of people being trained in how to install the hi-tech, low carbon devices.

The Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership said the tariffs will help the UK to catch up with its European neighbours on producing renewable power.

Director Tim German said: "This decision will drive a boom in renewable energy investment by individuals, communities and small businesses.

"Millions of people would like to invest in microgeneration, but the current system is too complicated and for many people the figures just don't add up.

"Feed-in tariffs have been used in Europe for nearly twenty years – this is Britain's first step towards catching up with the competition." 

When a scheme similar to the feed-in tariff system was introduced in Germany, there was a sharp increase in microgeneration, especially electricity from rooftop solar panels. More than 170,000 Germans are now employed in the renewable energy industry, worth ?9 billion per year.

Newquay-based Trade Services has seen a surge in demand for its training courses in how to fit a range of green technologies, from solar panels to wind turbines, ground source heating to hydro power systems.

Centre manager Geoff Cook said: "We are a lot, lot busier getting people trained up to do this sort of thing. It is a big growing industry. We have got a lot of people wanting to train to install these technologies."