The UK government has announced changes to the timeline for its latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction round, confirming that offshore wind projects — including both fixed-bottom and floating technologies — will now follow a single timetable under Allocation Round 7 (AR7).
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the decision was taken in response to appeals from non-qualifying applicants, which prevented the auction from proceeding on its previously planned shorter timeline.
The sealed bidding window will now be held between 11 and 17 November, with results due to be published on 14 January, according to the revised schedule released by the department.
“We believe providing clarity of a single timetable is more effective than providing different scenarios for different appeals stages,” DESNZ said in a statement.
Applicants undergoing a Tier 2 non-qualification review will still be permitted to submit bids during the November bidding window, preventing further delays while their eligibility is assessed.
Regulator Ofgem is expected to confirm final participation in AR7 by 28 November, after which the allocation process will move forward.
The CfD scheme is the UK’s flagship mechanism for supporting low-carbon electricity generation, offering long-term price stability to developers of renewable energy projects. Offshore wind — a key part of the country’s clean energy transition — has been central to previous rounds, though last year’s AR6 auction saw no bids from offshore wind developers due to cost concerns.
AR7 marks the first annual round under the revised schedule introduced to accelerate project delivery and attract investment amid rising construction and supply chain costs.
