The outcome of the UK’s latest renewable energy auction is expected to give fresh momentum to the country’s push for secure, domestically produced power, consultancy Cornwall Insight said.
Renewable generation lead Lucy Dolton said the allocation of 1.3 gigawatts of onshore wind capacity and 4.9 GW of solar under Allocation Round 7a (AR7a) demonstrated continued investor commitment to the UK energy market, despite broader economic and policy uncertainties.
“The capacity awarded shows that investors remain committed to the UK and that renewables continue to play a central role in strengthening energy security and reducing exposure to volatile gas markets,” Dolton said.
However, she cautioned that delivery risks remain significant, with a large share of awarded capacity scheduled close to the government’s 2030 clean power target. Around 2.5 GW of projects are due to come online in 2027/28, while a further 3.7 GW is scheduled for 2028/29, she noted.
Dolton said delays linked to grid connection backlogs and planning constraints have historically affected many UK renewable projects, raising concerns about timely delivery.
“To fully realise the value of this new capacity, we will need rapid expansion of storage assets and a strengthened grid, to ensure electricity can move to where it is needed,” she said.
She added that recent reforms, including a “first-ready, first-connected” approach to grid connections and changes to flexibility contracts, are intended to address these challenges but will take time to implement.
“AR7 is a step forward, but its impact will depend on the UK’s ability to deliver these projects on time, get the grid ready, and build the storage to support them,” Dolton said.
