The GIB – set up by the UK government in late 2012 to helpkick-start investments in major low-carbon projects – has so far focused on offshorewind, waste-to-energy and energy efficiency.

But the green bank now plans to extend that to backingsmaller-scale, community onshore wind projects, which have faced problemsraising finance since the country’s Co-op Bank – a major supporter ofrenewables – was forced to pull in its horns last year.

The