The application period for this year’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 officially ended on 27 August at 5 p.m., marking the close of the window for developers to submit eligible projects for consideration.
Eligible applicants now await the start of the auction process, with sealed bids scheduled to be submitted between 21 and 27 October under the department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) shortest auction timeline. Alternatively, bids can be submitted from 5 to 9 January 2026 if appeals are requested by non-qualifying applicants.
A record 25 gigawatts (GW) of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity qualified for inclusion in Pot 3, which has a maximum strike price of £113 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in 2024 prices. The capacity eligibility was increased by nearly 9GW following London’s decision to relax the requirement for projects to have secured planning permission prior to bidding.
In addition, more than 450 megawatts (MW) of floating wind capacity qualified for Pot 4, which offers a maximum strike price of £271/MWh.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero indicated that the bidding process will proceed within the announced timelines, with the potential for appeals and adjustments if necessary.
