The registration period for the UK government’s Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 officially opened on July 9, allowing developers to begin registering their companies for this year’s auction.
According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) indicative timeline, the registration window will remain open until August 27. Developers must submit their registrations through the Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Body’s online CfD portal.
Applications for the auction itself are expected to open from August 7 for all technologies, including offshore wind, subject to final confirmation by DESNZ.
If the proposed timeline is adopted, a sealed bidding window for offshore wind could open as early as October 1 or as late as December 3, depending on whether appeals from non-qualifying applications delay the process.
CfD auction results are projected to be announced between December 19-22 at the earliest, or February 20-23, 2026 at the latest, contingent on the timeline followed.
The UK government said the schedule reflects its continued commitment to supporting renewable energy projects through competitive auctions, designed to secure low-carbon electricity at competitive prices.
