Solar Trade Association launches £1 emergency rescue plan

The Solar Trade Association (STA) has launched a solar rescue plan in response to planned government cuts of 87% to subsidies for rooftop solar panel installations in January.

The emergency plan would see just one pound added to consumers’ bills by 2019, in addition to the £9 a year that it currently costs households to subsidise solar technology.

Should the cuts go ahead, the STA estimates that up to 27,000 jobs would be at risk with a number of solar businesses already feeling the strain including Leicester-based company, Mark Group, who went into administration last week, putting at risk over 900 jobs.

Speaking on the fate of Mark Group, Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, commented: “This is terrible news for the UK solar industry. The consultation has not even closed, and businesses are already going under – despite the fact that the Government claim this is a ‘real’ consultation. Mark Group going into administration will also cause serious knock on effects in the supply chain.”

“Surely this will set alarm bells ringing for the Government?  Jobs matter, and there are 27,000 at stake. We are preparing alternative solutions and will be working with decision makers to discuss our alternative proposal for more structured, steady and workable reductions to support.”

Last week, Zep Solar UK pulled out of the UK citing the government’s planned cuts as the reason why. A spokesperson for the company said: “We’re left to conclude that the UK government doesn’t support solar development. We’ve put expansion plans to the UK on hold indefinitely and will focus efforts elsewhere.”

The STA has called for cross-party support for the emergency proposals which would need to be adopted quickly to prevent further job losses, wastage of the money already invested by the taxpayer, and future economic investment.

The government has claimed the cuts are an effort to protect the consumer from soaring energy bills and says it has also already committed a huge amount in subsidies for the industry, enabling it to support itself.

The STA disputes this, saying “neither claim stands up to scrutiny” and urged people and businesses to support its proposals.

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