The UK government has initiated a consultation on potential expansion of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) scheme starting from next year. The scheme, introduced recently, currently provides payments of up to £27 million per gigawatt (GW) to developers investing in and enhancing the sustainability of local supply chains for fixed bottom and floating wind projects, beginning with this year’s Allocation Round 7.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) indicated it is exploring options to broaden the scheme’s scope. “The consultation is necessary to understand views on the proposed reforms and how we can continue to improve the CIB for government, offshore and onshore wind developers, the wider supply chain and the workforce,” DESNZ said in a statement.
Among the proposals under consideration are extending the CIB to include onshore wind projects, as well as implementing technical improvements to ensure the scheme’s efficient operation. The department is also evaluating whether to incorporate criteria related to skills investment and workforce protection by encouraging developers and suppliers to negotiate a new offshore wind fair work charter.
The consultation period runs until October 6, with a government response expected later in the autumn.
