Now that interest rates on many savings accounts have dropped to about 0.1% would you be interested in a return of £25,000 over 25 years for an investment of just £12,500? If you've got an unshaded, south-facing roof, you can earn a 7%-10% tax-free return, index-linked, if you fit solar panels that generate electricity (Photovoltaics). This new Government scheme is called “Feed-in Tariffs”. Investors in Photovoltaics will be largely insulated from price rises that Ofgem warn could see household bills reach £2,000 pa by 2020. A typical 2.5kW well sited Photovoltaic installation could reward a homeowner with up to £900 per year and save them £140 a year off their electricity bill. Householders making this investment will get a further payment for any electricity they feed into the grid. Could you say that about a new car or fitted kitchen?

Don't be deterred by the idea that the UK doesn't get enough sunshine - the sun here is more reliable than you think and only around one-third less powerful than that in southern Spain. The technology can work on south-east or south-west facing roofs too. Most of the electricity generated is consumed by the householder so virtually no energy is lost in transmission. More distant power stations can lose over a third of their energy generated in such a way.

The Feed-in Tariff has been introduced via the passing of the 2008 Energy Act. It’s intended to boost the use of domestic renewable energy and kick-start the UK industry. You can learn more at www.fitariffs.co.uk or www.ownergy.co.uk.