The new fund set up by DECC and the Masdar Institute will co-fund research which draws on domestic experiences of policy designed to promote renewables deployment.

The research will support the work of the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA) to advise nations on putting renewable energy legislation in place.

DECC and the Masdar Institute are also launching a partnership made up of government bodies and private sector companies to be directed and hosted by the Masdar Institute. The partnership will develop, support and guide small businesses as they look to deploy low carbon energy sources on a massive scale.

UK Energy & Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said, "These two new collaborative projects are examples of exactly the type of global collaborative effort that we must encourage to tackle climate change problems."