AN energy-efficient light manufacturer in County Durham is aiming to treble turnover during the next five years as it looks to gain an increased share of the growing alternative power industry.

Sola Skylights, which designs tubes to channel natural light into buildings, has estimated it will increase sales from £2m a year to £6m by 2012, on the back of the increasing global demand for environmentally-friendly products.

The Shildon company, which supplies light tubes to companies across the UK, also hopes to increase its 12-strong workforce in the near future.

Sola Skylights has recently won its first order to install light fittings into supermarkets - owned by North Yorkshire chain Proudfoots - and hopes that other major retail companies will follow.

All of the company's products - including the Sky Tunnel, which is hailed as being the most versatile light tube design of its kind - are made at its headquarters on the George Reynolds Industrial Estate, a facility Sola Skylights said it may look at expanding.

Peter Wood, Sola Skylight's marketing manager, said the company was geared for growth.

"Our plan is definitely to increase over the next few years. We are looking at doubling or probably trebling our turnover over the next five years. As for staff numbers, that will probably grow over time as a result," he said.

"There is a growing demand for products that are low on energy use, and our light pipes can be fitted in a variety of types of rooms and buildings. We're already working on a national scale, but we're always looking to grow that further and win new clients.

"Our first supermarket deal is one we are quite hopeful about, and is quite a breakthrough for us. If we can convince big supermarket chains it is a good idea to use natural instead of artificial light, then that could have a massive effect on the business."

Sola Skylight is supplying its products to construction company Apollo for its social housing scheme in Hounslow, London, to North-East environmental company Groundwork and to numerous merchants both in the North-East and across the UK.

"The demand for being energy efficient is growing, and hopefully more people will realise the value of installing natural lights," said Mr Wood.

"The future for our business is really looking very bright."