The announcement this week that the UK Government is making further cuts in renewable energy subsidies will force hundreds of green energy companies out of business , leading to tens of thousands of job losses and scare away foreign investors , says the UN 's Chief Environment Scientist , Professor David Smith . Furthermore , tax breaks for oil and gas is sending a " perverse signal " to the rest of the world , says McGlade . Whitehall has ended support for new large-scale solar farms and is consulting on plans to slash subsidies for smaller installations put up by households, schools and communities by 87%. The Solar Trade Association ( STA ) says 27,000 jobs are now at risk as the industry 's 3,000 firms face cuts . Two solar panel companies , including the UK 's largest installer , went into administration last week , losing 1,200 jobs , and two smaller firms have also gone the same way - all blaming the cuts . The industry also says the government is making it impossible to build new onshore wind farms - the UK 's best chance of meeting environmental targets at the lowest possible cost - by ending subsidies for future projects . Friends of the Earth 's Alasdair Cameron says that " we are struggling to understand the government 's approach to renewables when it is also seeking Chinese investment in nuclear power . It 's the equivalent of throwing money at analogue instead of digital television " .
The announcement this week that the UK Government is making further cuts in renewable energy subsidies will force hundreds of green energy companies out of business , leading to tens of thousands of job losses and scare away foreign investors , says the UN 's Chief Environment Scientist , Professor David Smith . Furthermore , tax breaks for oil and gas is sending a " perverse signal " to the rest of the world , says McGlade . The Solar Trade Association ( STA ) says 27,000 jobs are now at risk as the industry 's 3,000 firms face cuts . Two solar panel companies , including the UK 's largest installer , went into administration last week , losing 1,200 jobs , and two smaller firms have also gone the same way - all blaming the cuts . The industry also says the government is making it impossible to build new onshore wind farms - the UK 's best chance of meeting environmental targets at the lowest possible cost - by ending subsidies for future projects . Friends of the Earth 's Alasdair Cameron says that " we are struggling to understand the government 's approach to renewables when it is also seeking Chinese investment in nuclear power . It 's the equivalent of throwing money at analogue instead of digital television " .