UK Government secures record pipeline of 133 clean energy projects in latest auction round

Today (3rd September), the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published the outcome of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6, which commenced on 27 March 2024.  

It is the most successful renewables auction to date, delivering 133 new green infrastructure projects that will power the equivalent of 11 million British homes, in a key milestone towards delivering clean power by 2030.  

Nine offshore wind contracts were awarded in this round, after none were agreed in 2023, including what will be Europe’s largest and second largest windfarm projects, Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4 off the Yorkshire coast. These successful results come after the government increased the budget by 50%, seven times bigger than the previous round’s pot, allocating £1.1bn for offshore wind alone.  

Other projects awarded include:   

the largest floating offshore wind project in the world to reach market, Green Volt, which is double the size of Europe’s total installed floating offshore wind capacity 

6 new tidal projects, building on the UK’s world leading position, with just under half of the world’s operational tidal stream capacity being situated in UK waters 

a combined 115 solar and onshore wind projects, which is more than the total number of projects delivered in the last auction round   

Projects have been agreed at well below the upper limit on the price set for the auction – meaning the government has bought a record amount of clean power at much lower cost to consumers than the maximum price – providing value for money and cheap power. 

The funding awarded today will support new green jobs across the country, increasing prosperity in industrial heartlands and rural communities, and unlocking green economic growth from the Scottish Highlands to the Suffolk coast.    

For a full list of the results see here.  

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:   

“Securing new wind turbines, solar panels and cutting-edge technologies such as tidal will boost growth, catalyse investment and support good jobs across Great Britain.   

We’ve done this while ensuring value for money for billpayers, delivering the biggest auction round to date at competitive prices, helping turbocharge our mission for energy independence and clean power by 2030.” 

For further information see here.