300 new green jobs for Wales

27 January 2011

Sharp, Europe's biggest manufacturer of solar panels, is to create 300 new jobs at a plant in Wrexham, increasing the workforce to 1,100.

The company said the investment will almost double its production capacity at the site, with an additional 3,000 panels being made every day.

Gordon James, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"This is a very welcome announcement, as it will boost the green economy in Wales, as well as helping to cut climate-changing emissions.

"This will also help the Welsh Assembly Government meet the ambitions of its green jobs strategy. Such jobs are crucially important when so many are being lost. A green economy is undoubtedly the path to a successful and thriving future for Wales."

Sharp said feed-in tariffs, the scheme which pays people for energy generated from small-scale renewables, had given a "shot in the arm" to the solar industry.

Friends of the Earth's energy advisor, Alan Simpson said;

"The UK still has one of the least ambitious targets for developing solar panels in the whole of Europe - and the feed-in tariff is under attack from both the Treasury and big energy firms.

"UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne must stand firm and push for an expansion of feed-in tariffs so that the UK can reap the huge benefits of a first class solar industry."

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577