Offshore wind developers in the UK have been granted an additional 21 working days to submit their applications for the newly introduced Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) payments, part of the government's Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. The application window will now run from February 13 to April 14, extending the deadline from the original March 14 cutoff to a total of 43 working days, as confirmed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
The CfD CIB scheme, which applies to both fixed-bottom and floating wind developers for the first time in this year's Allocation Round 7, is a new eligibility requirement for entry into the full CfD auction. Dates for the CfD auction itself are yet to be announced.
Under the scheme, developers who pledge to enhance the sustainability of their supply chains will be eligible for bonus payments at a rate of £27 million per gigawatt (GW) of capacity. This could involve investments in new manufacturing facilities in economically disadvantaged areas of the UK or collaborations with companies committed to sustainable manufacturing practices for their projects.
