Firm calls for clarity on energy

Stuart Duncan of Duncan Plumbing, Heating & Electrics, based at Tockwith, near York, said businesses were being hindered by the uncertainty over financial incentives, which are seen as critical to ensuring the mass adoption of technologies such as solar PV.

The introduction of feed-in-tariffs in April, part of the Clean Energy Cash Back scheme, has helped generate jobs by making payments to ordinary energy users for the renewable electricity they generate.

Mr Duncan said: "We've added five staff to our solar division in the past month and we are keen to expand further but we can't risk doing so until Government policies are clarified in the long term." The tariffs were introduced by the last government to help Britain ensure 15 per cent of its power comes from renewable power by 2020. However, there has been speculation the scheme could be halted as part of the coalition's austerity drive.

Mr Duncan said customers should act quickly if they want to take advantage of the subsidies.