Cumbria-based solar PV company Sundog Energy, has been awarded the Investors in People (IiP) Silver Award, making it one of approximately 148 organisations to receive the accolade out of 38,000 applicants in the UK. Gaining IiP Silver status places Sundog in the top 1 per cent of Investors in People and makes it one of the first solar PV companies to achieve such an award.

Renewable energy company Eco Environments has taken three months’ orders in just two weeks following the news that the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) cuts would kick-in from December 12. As of this date, the tariff for solar PV schemes up to 4kW will be cut from 43.3/kWh to 21p/kWh. While Eco Environments is lobbying the government to reconsider the extent of the tariff cut, the company had been planning for it for some time. David Hunt, a director with Eco Environments, said: “We knew and accepted that the current subsidy level of 43.3p for smaller domestic and commercial solar PV installations was coming to an end. “What shocked us and the industry as a whole, was the extent of the cut and the speed with which it is being implemented. “When the announcement was made at the end of October, we committed to getting as many customers as possible up and running before December 12 which helped us achieve sales greater than last year’s entire turnover in one month. We accepted three months’ orders in two weeks and could have taken on six months’ orders if we hadn’t closed the order books to ensure that we could deliver schemes ahead of the 12th. “Our order book also remains healthy and growing for installations after the deadline because customers understand that it remains one of the best investments you can make, far better than an ISA, bank or savings account. It is also tax free, index-linked and fixed for 25 years.” The company has also achieved both ISO9001 quality management and ISO14001 environmental management accreditations. Eco Environments’ commercial director, Mark Buchanan, said: “It is only because our company has been thoroughly tested in all departments and has strong cultures, processes, people and systems that we are able to respond as quickly and effectively as possible to the needs of our customers.”

 The official Parliamentary record has released the names of the MPs who voted against a Labour motion to delay the December 12 deadline for a reduction in the Feed-in Tariff subsidy for solar PV.

Burnley firm Solarlec has launched a legal challenge against the government after it announced urgent plans to slash subsidies paid to consumers who generate their own renewable energy.