The UK has successfully secured a record 8.4GW of offshore wind power in Europe’s largest auction to date.
Through this record offshore wind achievement, the UK has taken a monumental step towards ending dependence on volatile fossil fuels and permanently lowering our bills.
The result represents the largest single procurement of offshore wind energy in UK and European history and represents a major vote of confidence in a new era of UK energy sovereignty and prosperity.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “With these results, the UK is taking back its energy sovereignty. Clean, homegrown electricity is the right choice for this country to permanently lower prices, and this bid will create thousands of jobs across the UK.”
Delivering clean energy to 12 million households
This auction round, known as Contracts for Difference AR7, will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 12 million homes.
This breakthrough result puts the UK firmly on track to achieve its clean power mission by 2030.
These results show that offshore wind is cheaper to build and operate than fresh gas. New figures published today using the LCOE industry index show that the cost of building and operating a new gas-fired power station is £147 per megawatt hour.
In contrast, fixed offshore wind results in today’s auction averaged £90.91 per megawatt hour, 40% less than the cost of building and operating new gas.
Supporting new jobs and regional growth in offshore wind power generation
The auction will generate around £22 billion of private investment and support around 7,000 jobs, bringing growth and good jobs to all parts of the country, particularly to the country’s industrial centres.
We have successful projects in all parts of the UK, including fixed offshore wind:
Dogger Bank South off the coast of Yorkshire and Norfolk Vanguard off the coast of East Anglia: two of the world’s largest offshore wind farms supporting thousands of jobs Berwick Bank in the North Sea: the first new Scottish project since 2022 and the world’s largest planned offshore wind project Awer y Mor: the first Welsh project to win a contract in more than a decade
Leading the world with emerging technology
These results also represent significant progress in our efforts to lead the world in emerging technologies such as floating offshore wind.
This auction round secured major infrastructure projects that will drive growth and prosperity for local communities for decades to come.
These results, and new analysis published today, show that offshore wind, alongside solar and onshore wind, remains cheaper to build and operate than gas power, as the UK races to reduce energy bills to meet rising electricity demand, which is expected to more than double by 2050.
Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control, said: “Amid global headwinds and pressures on the offshore wind sector in recent years, we have been able to secure record capacity at competitive prices for consumers.
“More offshore wind power is needed to meet the growing demand for electricity in the coming years. This result propels us towards a future where clean, safe energy is abundant and we reduce our dependence on foreign imports.”
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