A record number of solar, onshore wind and tidal power projects have been sold in the UK’s biggest ever renewable energy auction.
This comes just weeks after the last renewable energy auction delivered the largest procurement of offshore wind power in European history, disrupting the global challenges facing the industry and securing a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s clean energy mission.
Today’s achievements build on that success with securing a record number of solar projects, the largest successful onshore wind project in the UK in a decade, and a new tidal scheme.
Combined with January’s offshore wind results, the government has now implemented a record 201 projects, generating 14.7GW of new clean electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 16 million homes.
Securing 2030 clean power goals
The results of the renewable energy auction put the UK on track to meet its 2030 clean electricity target and ensure clean, homegrown energy is affordable.
Prices have been agreed for new onshore wind at £72.24/MWh and new solar at £65.23/MWh, both less than half the £147/MWh it costs to build and operate a new gas power station.
Once built and generated, the new, clean, homegrown electricity now secured will lower household bills and lower wholesale prices, while protecting families and businesses from the fossil fuel price shocks that have caused half of the recessions since the 1970s.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The results of the latest renewable energy auction show once again that clean UK electricity is the right choice for our country, with agreement that the price of new onshore wind and solar power is more than 50% cheaper than the cost of building and operating new gas.”
Renewable energy auction supports UK regional projects
These projects will provide the country with key infrastructure, enable an additional £5bn of private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs as the UK races to reduce energy bills and meet future electricity demands.
Successful projects in the latest clean energy auction include:
Imerys Wind Farm in Cornwall – the largest successful onshore wind project in the UK in the last decade, helping to rebuild an industry that had stalled under a de facto onshore wind ban. The Sanquhar II wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, is the fourth largest onshore wind farm in the UK, driving growth and private investment across the region. West Burton Solar Power Station – A nationally significant infrastructure project, it will be the largest solar farm ever to win a government renewable energy contract, transforming the home of the last coal-fired power station into a clean, safe, home-grown, British-controlled energy station.
Community power planning: Helping communities take control of their energy
The UK is building clean, homegrown energy at all scales. The results of these clean energy auctions follow the publication of the Government’s Regional Power Plan.
The fund, worth up to £1 billion, will enable local communities across the UK to own and manage their own clean energy projects, building community wealth through the largest public investment in local energy in the country’s history.
It also follows a range of actions to reduce energy bills, including an average bill discount of £150 from April and the biggest ever public investment in home energy upgrades through the Warm Homes Plan.
“Today’s record results provide a further boost to the UK’s 2030 Clean Power Mission, which means more home-generated electricity and better energy security, at a price that is affordable for consumers,” concluded Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control.
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