The Government’s flagship policy to make UK homes energy efficient could cover solar panels.

The Green Deal was expected to include loft insulation and heating controls, offering homeowners and businesses up to £10,000 to help pay for their installation.

New documents released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change today show that energy generating measures like solar panels, ground and air source heat pumps and biomass boilers could also be supported by the Deal.

Rigorous standards will apply to Green Deal aided measures emphasised Energy Minister Greg Barker, because it is “vital” that people trust a policy that will be “the biggest home improvement programme since the Second World War”.

Mr Barker said: “I have heard too many cases of shoddy workmanship or dodgy technology from Government schemes in the past so from day one there will be strict rules about standards, information will be readily available and there will be a proper route for complaints.

“We’ve already started putting in place the foundations for this and I am pleased the United Kingdom Accreditation Service has been formally appointed to ensure that installers and assessors will meet the necessary standards when the Green Deal starts next year.”

A ‘Golden Rule’ will judge whether energy efficient projects can count on Government cash for support: the savings made by installing a measure must be the same or larger than the cost of repayment over the term of the Green Deal Plan.

The legal framework for the Deal is currently being thrashed out in Parliament under the Energy Bill.