Solar energy scheme for City Hall

The London Development Agency has been awarded more than £270,000 towards the £0.5 million scheme, energy minister Malcolm Wicks announced on Tuesday. The City Hall project will receive government money under the Solar Photovoltaics Major Demonstration Programme.

"The decision of the Energy Saving Trust and the Department of Trade and Industry to back this project at City Hall with a grant is extremely welcome and sends a strong signal encouraging the use of renewable technologies," said Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. "I want London to take the lead in applying renewable energy technologies and if we can install photovoltaic panels at the heart of London government, this will be a symbolic and important step forward."

The photovoltaic system will be viewed by people from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The system will be mounted onto the roof and fully integrated in a glass-glass system on the circular eyebrow shading and utilises highly efficient monocrystalline technology.