Almost 2700 jobs threatened by feed-in tariff cuts say campaigners

Up to 2,650 solar jobs in the West Midlands are under threat because of tariff cuts, an industry body has warned.

The vast majority of the 3,310 people employed in the solar sector in the region could be see their jobs at risk due to the cut, according to new Solar Trade Association analysis.

Feed-in tariffs are part of the Clean Energy Cashback, which pays people who put solar panels on their property for creating their own green electricity.

What these changes mean:

At the end of August, the proposed tariff paid for generating electricity will be cut from 12.4p to 1.6p.

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.

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 proposals.

Across the West Midlands, there are currently almost fifty thousand solar homes and buildings.