<b><b>In April the government stepped up its support for developers to offer customers homes with the technology to convert natural sunlight into free electricity by launching a &amp;£20 million package of solar energy grants. <i>Housebuilder</i> asks if Britain can catch up with our European neighbours in the use of photovoltaics</b></b><br><b>Germany and the Netherlands have very similar climates to Britain when it comes to the housing economies and sunshine upon which PV thrives. In fact, photovoltaic systems work fine in the cloud-diffused light we are used to, with better long-term performance when cooler. But the similarities with our Euro colleagues stop there when it comes to developers capitalising upon the marketable value of PV. </b><br><b>&amp;“It has been something of a waiting game in Britain, as we watched other countries pioneer the technology and their investment initiatives,&amp;” said Stuart Pocock, who as accessories manager for the British company Redland Roofing Systems of Lafarge, is closely observing markets across Europe. &amp;“Experts have remarked that British housebuilders now have a distinct advantage, being able to learn from the experience of other countries to offer customers the PV lifestyle with the new government grants.&amp;”</b><br><b>Redland&amp;’s interest in the hi-tech PV market may come as something of …