The north east of England is furthering its growing reputation as the renewables capital of the UK, with the launch of a scheme to help small businesses develop and use micro-renewable technologies.

The project will cover a wide range of micro-generation, such as solar thermal, photovoltaic, heat pumps, combined heat and power systems, wind turbines and biomass, which generate electricity at capacities of up to 50kW.

It is being part financed by GBP 495,000 from the European Regional Development Fund with matching funding from the regional development agency, One NorthEast.

The aim is to provide specific support to SMEs, to increase uptake of new micro-renewable technologies and help north east England as a region to develop its micro-renewables market.

This comes as the UK government introduces a preferential feed-in tariff for electricity from renewable sources in April 2010. Similar measures have helped other European countries to drive a step change in their renewable energy production.

However, technical knowledge is recognised as a barrier to developing the micro-renewables market and the scheme will provide guidance and assistance to organisations looking to install these technologies, to ensure they choose the most appropriate technology.

The UK’s Renewable Energy Strategy calls for 15 per cent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.