UK refuses to reveal offshore wind bids made in latest round

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction round for the renewable energy auction was announced on March 7, 2024 and closed on April 19.

It was hailed as the largest ever budget for CfDs, with £1 billion (€1.1 billion) allocated overall and £800 million (€930 million) for offshore wind.

Despite the Round 6 Allocation closing on April 19, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says it cannot reveal even the number of applications received in the round.

The sensitivity may be a result of last year’s round, in which not a single bid was made.

Refusing to explain why the information requested was ‘commercially sensitive’, a spokesman for the department said the round had allocated more than four times more to offshore wind than ever before.

“National Grid ESO is currently assessing application,” he said. “Once any appeals have been dealt with, the Secretary of State can consider whether to increase the budget.

“We look forward to seeing a competitive auction in the summer that will bring forward new, clean energy and deliver value for money for households.

“We do not speculate on the outcome of an auction, which is a competitive process and its outcome dependent on a range of factors including bid prices, and the volume of eligible applications.”