More than 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity has secured 20-year Contracts for Difference (CfDs) in the UK’s Allocation Round 7a (AR7a) renewables auction, according to auction results.
A total of 27 projects were successful, clearing the round at a strike price of £72.24 per megawatt-hour in 2024 prices, below the £92/MWh bid ceiling set ahead of the tender.
Onshore wind competed with solar projects in the Pot 1 auction stream, which had an overall budget of £295 million, including a £160 million ringfence for wind. Successful projects have delivery windows of 2027–28 and 2028–29.
Scotland accounted for almost 1.1 GW of the onshore wind capacity awarded. Wales secured 185 megawatts (MW) across five projects, while England was awarded 28 MW for two sites.
CWP Energy emerged as one of the largest recipients, securing two CfDs totalling 269.4 MW for the 308-MW Sanquhar 2 wind farm in Scotland, which is already under construction.
ESB-Coriolis won a 124.8-MW contract for the consented Glendye wind farm, while OnPath Energy secured a 70-MW deal for the Lethans Extension project, both in Scotland. RWE also secured three separate CfDs for its Clachaig Glen, Enoch Hill 2 and Golticlay wind farms.
In Wales, five projects cleared the auction, including Bute Energy’s 93.8-MW Twyn Hywel wind farm. The two English projects awarded contracts were the 20-MW Imerys wind farm and the 8.2-MW Hyndburn 2 project.
The AR7a results form part of the UK government’s efforts to expand low-carbon power generation and meet its 2030 clean electricity targets.
