Hundreds more solar jobs lost amidst industry cuts

The survey, carried out by the Solar Trade Association (STA), covered 204 companies, which equates to less than 10 per cent of the solar sector.

However the association claims that 6,500 jobs could have already been lost if its findings reflect the entire industry, with another 18,500 uncertain.

The STA’s findings come after the loss of 1,200 jobs due to the closure of leading solar firms Mark Group, Climate Energy and Southern Solar, all of which followed the government’s announcement in August that it would cut solar subsidies by up to 87 per cent.

The study supports previous estimations from the STA regarding job losses, with the company predicting earlier this year that 27,000 jobs out of a total of 35,000 in the solar industry and its supply chain could be at risk.

Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, is critical of the government’s approach to ensuring job security in the solar sector. “Those 1,800 jobs that we know have already gone represent technical skills and experience that has been built up in the solar industry over the last five years,” he said. “It is this very supply chain and know-how that is essential to delivering low-cost solar. And yet the Government is at risk of throwing many more of these jobs away.”

The STA launched a proposal in October to add one pound to energy bills in 2019 as an alternative to the government’s proposed Feed-In-Tariff cuts, gaining cross-party support from over 30 MPs.