Cumbria has been earmarked for a number of wind farms

Firms are eligible for the money if they have less than 250 employees and want to get into markets including wind power, solar panels and energy from waste.

The development agency, Furness Enterprise, said it wanted to make it easier for local companies to win energy business.

Last month Scottish Power and Dong of Denmark won licences to develop large wind farms off Barrow's coast.

The grants, of up to �2,000 each, are designed to help smaller firms with marketing and buying or adapting equipment, so they are in a position to bid for contracts in the renewable energy industry.

Stuart Klosinski, of Furness Enterprise, said: "We want to make it easier for firms in the Furness area to win business in the growing market for renewable energy.

"As well as being able to brief them on what is happening in the market, we are now able to offer financial help to enable companies to prepare to enter the market and pursue contract leads."