Solar energy installations are likely to remain as popular as ever in Herefordshire despite recent Government proposals to slash the incentive for renewable energy systems by more than half, according to leading renewable energy company Caplor Energy.

The Department of Energy & Climate Change's announcement a fortnight ago to press ahead with a 55% cut in the Feed-in Tariff, is seeing many renewable energy companies work round the clock to get new systems up and running by the 12th December deadline. However, according to Caplor Energy's Business Development Manager Jamie Baldwin, business is still rolling in for new systems after the December deadline.

"This week we had our biggest order to date come in, despite the imminent cut in the Feed-in Tariff. People are realising that even with a much-reduced Feed-in Tariff, solar PV systems still offer a great opportunity to generate your own energy at a time when energy prices are going upwards rapidly, and a steady income over 25 years."

Haygrove – an international horticulture business based in Ledbury – is the latest in a number of clients placing orders at Caplor Energy. Last week the company installed three new commercial systems, including a 50kWp PV system at Wye Valley Metals in Rotherwas, Hereford and a 30kWp community project at Canon Frome, Ledbury.

Whilst the current trend in PV systems looks set to continue after the 12th December deadline, the long-term future of the industry is still in jeopardy according to Mr. Baldwin. "The elephant in the room is that Government has only committed a limited budget to supporting the Feed-in Tariffs, and because of that the long-term future of the UK's role in tackling climate change and energy security through renewable energy is looking bleak. The irony is that the solar industry has created 22,000 jobs in just 18 months, netting £276 million per annum for the Treasury".

Head of Policy at Hereford & Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Gary Woodman says: "The government cuts to the feed in tariff have been unfortunate but not altogether unsurprising. Whilst the private sector is still responding to the recession, the government needs to be targeting measures to encourage sound investments, such as in renewable energy systems, rather than taking away incentives."

The Department of Energy & Climate Change is currently consulting on the proposed changes to the Feed-in Tariff Scheme, which are due to be announced early in the New Year. You can read more about the proposed changes at DECC's website (http://www.decc.gov.uk) and a response to the consultation at Caplor Energy's blog (http://www.caplors-blog.blogspot.com/).

Please contact Jamie Baldwin on 07981 098398 for further information or to arrange an interview.