UK solar power industry proposes emergency plan to save renewables

Trade body says scheme would add just 1 to bills by 2019 and comes in response to government plans to cut subsidies for rooftop solar panels by 87%

The solar power industry has proposed an emergency plan to rescue renewables, which it says would add just 1 to consumer bills by 2019, on top of the 9 a year that clean technology subsidies cost bill payers.

The scheme is a response to government plans to cut subsidies for rooftop solar panel installations by 87% from 1 January. The Solar Trade Association (STA) has warned the move could cost up to 27,000 jobs and waste public money already spent on supporting the technology.