A year of “flip flopping” on energy policy could put off investors from buying into the Green Deal, DECC’s flagship scheme to spark up to £15billion worth of private investment in efficiency measures.

Howard Johns, chair of the Solar Trade Association made the claim ahead of planned cuts to Government’s subsidy for solar power, the third change to the Feed-in Tariff since it began in 2010. He suggested that this set a confusing precedent for investors.

Mr Johns told ELN: “The companies expected to move in and deliver the Green Deal won’t want to touch it with the amount of flip flopping this year.”

But DECC disputed the claims. A spokesperson told ELN there had been “massive interest” from firms in the initiative.