A WATCHFIELD firm has won a grant to develop technology that will catch the sun's rays and direct it to a miniature solar panel.

Microsharp is working on a solar concentrator, which uses an optical film to focus the sun's energy on to a base power generator like a silicon cell.

Microsharp was given £175,000 by the Carbon Trust and, if the technology works, solar panels could become cheaper and much more efficient.

Microsharp's chief executive Dr Nicholas Walker said: "We are applying our knowledge of optical films to find a novel approach to sustainable energy technology.

"Instead of a large solar panel which is expensive, you have a much smaller piece of silicon, and then you have a film lens which fits on the top.

"The grant is allowing us to research and develop components that could be used on a range of future sustainable energy products."

The film itself will be able to self-clean and remove surface water condensation, reducing costs at both production and maintenance stages.

Although it is early days in the technical tests, Microsharp has received interest from firms keen to use this technology in their buildings.

Dr Walker said: "We have linear lenses in development which could be fitted across the window of an office.

"The problem with a small lens is it needs to be in direct sunlight, whereas with a linear lens across a blind it could track the sun during the day.

"It would also have the financial benefit of keeping the sun out of the office, and so reducing the need for air conditioning."

Dr Walker accepts that the firm now faces a big challenge to make the use of silicon viable.

He said: "A company can put a computer chip on silicon and sell it for hundreds of pounds, whereas this won't generate immediate revenue.

"But with the grant funding we may be able to find a more efficient way of doing things that reaches a wider market."

Garry Staunton, of The Carbon Trust, said: "Studies by the Carbon Trust show renewable energy could provide up to a fifth of the UK's electricity needs by 2020 if emerging developments are given the right financial support.

"Our aim is to support the best emerging low carbon thinking and bring the worlds of science and business closer together."

The Applied Research grant scheme supports projects up to £250,000 with the condition that each entrepreneur attracts 40 per cent match funding.

Any organisation interested in funding can apply online at www.carbontrust.co.uk/technology/appliedresearch.

The Advertiser launched the Time To Change campaign in November to highlight how everyone can reduce their energy consumption and so minimise their impact on climate change.