Commenting on news that services company Carillion has told 4,500 staff that their jobs are at risk following plans to halve subsidies on solar power, Friends of the Earth’s energy campaigner, Donna Hume warned: “This is just the tip of the iceberg – if ministers push ahead with plans to slash solar subsidies tens of thousands of jobs could be lost.

As the 4,500-strong workforce at Carillion Energy come to terms with their first full day of a 90-day mass redundancy consultation today, analysts have warned the move could force further companies to the brink of collapse.

Facade and renewable energy specialist, The Alumet Group has been successful at the Construction Marketing Awards (CMA) in London. The company beat a shortlist of eight to receive the Best Marketing Campaign over £25k award in recognition of the successful launch and national awareness of its EOS Energy brand.

Energy minister Greg Barker, has said his only regret about introducing an early December cut-off point for solar PV subsidy was that he “didn’t do it earlier”.

Commenting on chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement today (Tuesday 29 November 2011), Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins said:“George Osborne’s Autumn Statement will send a wintery blast through the UK’s future economic prospects.

Good Energy does not agree with the government’s decision to bring forward the deadline for registering the higher rate of  Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) from April to December. However, the company wants to make sure as many small solar electricity generators as possible get their applications in by the deadline of midnight on the 11th of December. Good Energy says it has been supporting independent renewable generators for almost a decade – they’re the foundation upon which the company sees a 100 per cent renewable energy future being built – and believes the government’s decision isn’t going to change that.

Cumbria-based solar PV company Sundog Energy, has been awarded the Investors in People (IiP) Silver Award, making it one of approximately 148 organisations to receive the accolade out of 38,000 applicants in the UK. Gaining IiP Silver status places Sundog in the top 1 per cent of Investors in People and makes it one of the first solar PV companies to achieve such an award.

Renewable energy company Eco Environments has taken three months’ orders in just two weeks following the news that the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) cuts would kick-in from December 12. As of this date, the tariff for solar PV schemes up to 4kW will be cut from 43.3/kWh to 21p/kWh. While Eco Environments is lobbying the government to reconsider the extent of the tariff cut, the company had been planning for it for some time. David Hunt, a director with Eco Environments, said: “We knew and accepted that the current subsidy level of 43.3p for smaller domestic and commercial solar PV installations was coming to an end. “What shocked us and the industry as a whole, was the extent of the cut and the speed with which it is being implemented. “When the announcement was made at the end of October, we committed to getting as many customers as possible up and running before December 12 which helped us achieve sales greater than last year’s entire turnover in one month. We accepted three months’ orders in two weeks and could have taken on six months’ orders if we hadn’t closed the order books to ensure that we could deliver schemes ahead of the 12th. “Our order book also remains healthy and growing for installations after the deadline because customers understand that it remains one of the best investments you can make, far better than an ISA, bank or savings account. It is also tax free, index-linked and fixed for 25 years.” The company has also achieved both ISO9001 quality management and ISO14001 environmental management accreditations. Eco Environments’ commercial director, Mark Buchanan, said: “It is only because our company has been thoroughly tested in all departments and has strong cultures, processes, people and systems that we are able to respond as quickly and effectively as possible to the needs of our customers.”

 The official Parliamentary record has released the names of the MPs who voted against a Labour motion to delay the December 12 deadline for a reduction in the Feed-in Tariff subsidy for solar PV.

The revolt in the House of Commons yesterday (November 23) over government proposals to slash Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) payments by more than half was welcomed by a leading renewable energy company. A significant number of Liberal Democrats including transport minister Norman Baker made it clear they opposed the coalition’s plans to cut the tariff for solar PV schemes up to 4kW from 43.3/kWh to 21p/kWh. The seriousness of the issue was compounded by the coalition’s announcement on October 31 that – subject to consultation – the cuts would come into effect from December 12. David Hunt, a director with Eco Environments said: “We are pleased that the coalition has witnessed the extent of the anger to its proposals to slash the Feed-in-Tariffs by more than half which will cause serious and lasting damage to the renewable energy sector. “While companies offering multiple technologies such as our own are strong enough to survive, the savagery of the proposed cuts will decimate large parts of our industry, leaving many thousands of people on the jobs scrapheap. “The government maintains that its announcement is intended to provide the solar industry with a clear and sustainable growth path, avoiding boom and bust, but its proposals will cause exactly that. “The renewable energy sector is one of the few growing sectors in the UK and global economy which makes the Government’s proposals even more mystifying.” Eco Environments has its head office in Liverpool and regional offices in Carlisle, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and North Wales. During the next few months, further offices will open in the south of England. Staff numbers will also rise to approximately 60 during the current financial year and turnover is expected to rise from £1.4million to £5million. 

Commenting on the solar industry’s lobby of Parliament today (Tuesday 22 November 2011) over government plans to cut solar payments – organised by Cut Don’t kill – Friends of the Earth’s executive director Andy Atkins said:  “Government plans to slash solar payments will pull the plug on thousands of jobs and cast an enormous shadow over an industry that is helping to kick-start a clean energy revolution.

Houghton Springs Fish Farm in Dorset has become the first fish farm in the country to invest in solar power. The 10kWp system installed by The Energy Conservation Group will make a major contribution to cutting the farms energy bills and will benefit from 25 years of guaranteed income from the Feed-in Tariff scheme.