Manchester is to get Europe's largest vertical array of solar panels, designed to convert daylight into electricity. It has been confirmed that three sides of the landmark CIS service tower, the city's tallest building, will be clad with photovoltaic panels which will create 180,000 units of renewable electricity each year - enough energy to make nine million cups of tea. The ambitious ￡5.5m solar project, the largest ever in the UK, is being supported by a ￡885,000 grant from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and a ￡ 175,000 grant from the Department of Trade & Industry. It is expected that the 122 m high array of dark blue solar panels which will work regardless of the weather, will stand out on the Manchester skyline and may even become a tourist attraction. Work will commence shortly and it is expected to be complete by the end of 2005.
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