RWE has called for targeted reforms to the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, warning that current uncertainties could undermine offshore wind deployment and jeopardize progress toward national clean energy goals.
In the latest edition of its Clean Power Reflections Series, the company said policy changes are needed to help meet the UK government’s 2030 clean power targets and support cost-effective investment in offshore wind. RWE is one of the largest offshore wind developers in the UK.
Danielle Lane, RWE’s director of offshore development for the UK and Ireland, said extending CfD contracts to 25 years—up from the current 15—would better reflect the operational lifespan of projects and help lower overall costs.
“We need to build investor confidence and deliver projects efficiently. Extending CfDs to 25 years would reflect the realities of modern wind farms and reduce costs for consumers over time,” Lane said.
The company also called for more transparent auction processes, including fixed auction schedules and clear capacity targets through 2028, to provide developers with greater certainty. RWE warned that allowing projects without full consent to participate in auctions could strain the supply chain and raise prices.
With a record number of fully permitted projects expected to enter the next auction round, the company said failing to prioritize these could disrupt delivery timelines. RWE is also seeking immediate clarity on grid connection dates and called for “wake effects”—the impact of one wind farm on the performance of another—not to be factored into planning rules, citing the risk to investment planning.
The proposals come as the UK government seeks to scale up offshore wind capacity as part of its broader net-zero commitments under the CP2030 clean power framework.
