Solar Industry Warns of Job Losses After End of Green Homes Grants Voucher Scheme

SOLAR ENERGY UK says it is inevitable that closure of the Government’s Green Homes Grants Voucher scheme will result in job losses.

The end of the flagship home upgrade scheme just six months after its launch comes despite high levels of interest from consumers and installers, the solar industry’s trade association says.

Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett said: “The decision to scrap the Green Homes Grants Voucher scheme is disappointing and a setback for getting homes net zero ready. We urge the government to swiftly plug the gap left as a result of closing the scheme early in its forthcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy.”

“Closing the scheme early will hurt installation companies that have invested in staff in good faith to meet the strong demand for solar thermal technology and will inevitably lead to job losses.”

“We do welcome the news that the Local Authority Delivery and Social Housing Decarbonisation schemes will now receive additional funding to help those on low incomes secure green home upgrades. The Government must learn from these successful schemes and build a long-term policy to create viable job growth and a green economic recovery.”

Long Term Stimulus

The government had faced mounting pressure to address the administrative failings of the scheme in recent weeks from both industry and politicians, with the Environmental Audit Committee’s third Parliamentary report calling for the scheme to “be urgently overhauled and extended to provide greater long-term stimulus to the domestic energy efficiency sector.”

Solar Energy UK worked with industry associations in the energy efficiency sector to propose solutions for the beleaguered scheme. The decision now leaves the UK without a plan for decarbonising housing, where energy use currently accounts for approximately 14% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions.

The Green Homes Grants Voucher scheme is administered separately to the Green Homes Grants Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme, which has seen around half a billion pounds in funding allocated to local authorities and England’s five Local Energy Hubs to invest in green home upgrades.

Solar PV, solar thermal and energy storage are all eligible technologies under the LAD scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator, in which 2/3 projects under phase one include solar energy.