Up to 27,000 solar energy jobs could be at risk across the UK as a result of the government cut to feed-in tariff rates.
New analysis by the Solar Trade Association which was commissioned from the Government’s research partner on low-carbon jobs data, TBR Economic Research has shown for the first time how the 35,000 jobs in the solar industry and its supply chain are distributed across the regions of the UK.
The Solar Trade Association has estimated that the jobs of up to 27,000 people in the solar energy sector (out of a total of 35,000) could be at risk due to the proposed 87% cut to the domestic feed-in tariff for solar energy.
South-east England is set to be the worst affected with over 4,000 solar jobs at risk. The North West is also heavily affected with 3,500 of its 4,300 solar jobs threatened by the cuts, says the Solar Trade Association.
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 as of January 2016.
Across the UK there are currently just under 700,000 solar homes.
Paul Barwell, Chief Executive, Solar Trade Association, explained: “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. However we believe more than just one corner of the country should be able to get the benefits of going solar.”
Regional breakdown of solar jobs data
| Region | Solar PV employment – direct and indirect (TBR) | Employment at risk due to Feed-in Tariff cut (STA) |
| North East | 1,530
|
1224 |
| Wales
|
2,010
|
1,608
|
| East of England
|
2,340
|
1,872
|
| East Midlands
|
2,630
|
2,104
|
| London
|
2,740
|
2,192
|
| Scotland
|
2,990 | 2,392 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 3,230
|
2,584 |
| West Midlands
|
3,310
|
2,648
|
| South West | 3,800
|
3,040
|
| North West
|
4,370 | 3,496 |
| South East
|
5,310
|
4,248
|
| Total (including NI and Channel Islands) | 34,850
|
27,880
|
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