The UK Government has been supporting research, development and promotion of solar energy since 1977. In the early years most of the work was directed towards passive solar design (PSD) and solar thermal systems for water and central heating referred to simply as active solar systems. In 1984 work on active solar systems was curtailed but the passive solar programme continued through the 1980s. It has now culminated in the Energy Design Advice Scheme (EDAS) to promote and encourage the application of low energy design techniques studied within the DTI programme. Between 1991 and 1993 all the solar technologies were reviewed and some specific projects were carried out on the application of PV systems in buildings. These looked at the overall potential in the UK as well as the problems of integrating PV into building cladding components, and the connection of such systems to the electricity distribution grid. As a result of the reviews, in 1994 the programme gained a broader remit and now includes four distinct sectors: passive solar design, photovoltaics, active solar, and photoconversion. Research work and promotion of the results is now being carried out in all these areas. This article summarises the history of the DTI's solar programme within the context of the wider New and Renewable Energy Market Enablement programme. It goes on to describe the aims and objectives of the current programme as well as describing some recently completed and ongoing projects.