Solar panels sales slump 80% after a huge cut to Government subsidies sees families across the country turn their backs on the green energy
- Solar panel installations have fallen by 80 per cent as families make savings
- Tories cut the tariffs providing cashback for households by 65% last year
- Between January and March, there were about 650 rooftop deployments a week
- A fall of more than 75% on the long-term average of 2,700 a week since 2010
Solar panel installations have fallen by 80 per cent, following a massive cut in Government subsidies.
Families across the country have turned their back on solar energy, which saw thousands a week install panels on their roofs to cut their energy bills and sell power back to the National Grid.
It comes after the Conservative government cut the tariffs providing cashback for households by 65 per cent last year.
Solar panel installations have fallen by 80 per cent, following cuts in Government subsidies. It comes after the Tories cut the tariffs providing cashback for households by 65 per cent last year
Solar power had been hailed by Energy Secretary Greg Clark for creating ‘mini power-stations’ in family homes and businesses. But now the cut to the feed-in tariff, coupled with a massive hike in business rates, is claimed to have slashed the number of installations by 81 per cent compared to the 2016 average.
The Solar Trade Association, which produced the figures from government statistics, says the number of people putting solar panels on their homes is now at a six-year low.
The industry organisation’s chief executive, Paul Barwell, told the Independent: ‘At a time when we need more generation, the Government is hindering market competition against the best interests of consumers by suppressing the tremendous potential of solar power in the UK.
‘Solar is being needlessly impeded in the UK by shock taxes, red tape and by a serious failure in the only remaining supportive policy. We urge Government to act now to stabilise the industry.’
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Of particular concern is a 65 per cent drop in the number of large-scale solar schemes on hospitals, factories and other large buildings, which backers of solar power say may well have been caused by the business rate increase.
The figures equate to just one large factory roof having solar panels fitted every month in the whole of the country.
In total, between January and March, there were about 650 rooftop deployments a week – a fall of more than 75 per cent on the long-term average of 2,700 a week since 2010.
It follows the controversial decision to slash payments to households for their solar energy from 12 pence per kilowatt hour last January to just 4.39 pence.
But now the cut to the feed-in tariff, coupled with a massive hike in business rates, is claimed to have slashed the number of installations by 81 per cent compared to the 2016 average
The Government was accused of ‘huge, misguided cuts’ to clean energy following the move, which it said was necessary to curb rising costs of green energy on consumer bills.
Mr Barwell said he did not want new rooftop subsidies, but added: ‘What we are asking for, and urgently, is fair tax treatment, fixes to a failing policy, less red tape and just a level playing field. It makes no sense to shut the most popular and cheapest clean power out of the energy market.’
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has defended the fall in solar panel installations among homes and businesses.
A spokesman said: ‘This Government wants Britain to be one of the best places in the world to invest in clean, flexible energy. Solar power is a great success, with over 11 GW of capacity installed in the last five years - that’s enough to power more than 2.6 million homes with clean electricity.’
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