Tariff cut could trigger thousands of job losses

UP to 3,500 of the 4,400 jobs related to the solar power sector in the North West could be at risk, it has been claimed.

The Solar Trade Association says the 87% cut to the feed-in tariff for solar energy, will cause major disruption in the sector.

A new study published by the Government’s research partner on jobs data has shown for the first time just how many solar jobs, including those in the solar supply chain, there are in every region and local area.

Nationwide, the Solar Trade Association has estimated that the jobs of up to 27,000 people employed in the solar energy sector and its supply chain are under threat.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change proposed at the end of August to cut the tariff paid for electricity generated by solar rooftop panels from 12.4p to 1.6p.

Bob Ayres, founder and managing director of Southport-based company BE Renewables Ltd said: “The Prime Minister should be backing the hundreds of small and medium sized local businesses like mine in the solar industry rather than big state-owned foreign utilities.

“Tariffs paid for solar electricity should be reduced in a steady and structured way as the technology gets cheaper, rather than a sudden 87% cut.”

Across the North West there are currently 58,687 solar homes and 1,387 big solar rooftops on schools, warehouses and other commercial buildings.

Solar has been praised for the way it allows households and communities to take charge of their energy bill and act on climate change.

An alliance of organisations ranging from the National Farmers Union, the Confederation of British Industry, social housing providers and local authorities recently urged the government to “urgently reconsider” its proposal.

The Government’s proposal favours solar in the South West and the south coast of England and discriminates against much of the rest of the country.

Solar Trade Association chief executive Paul Barwell said: “Within this new set of proposals, the Government has used sunlight levels you might find in Devon, rather than those found in Yorkshire as they have done in the past. Here at the Solar Trade Association however we believe more than just one corner of the country should be able to get the benefits of going solar.”

“The Government’s short-term thinking on bills is condemning hardworking families to a future of higher energy costs.”