Latest CfD auction secures record onshore wind and solar capacity

Record levels of onshore wind and solar projects have been secured in the latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction.

Record levels of onshore wind and solar projects have been secured in the latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction.

In total the AR7a round for non-offshore wind technologies saw 6.2GW of projects secure contracts including 4.9GW of solar at a clearing price of £65.23/MWh), 1.3GW of onshore wind (£72.24/MWh) and 20.9MW of tidal stream (£265/MWh). The strike prices compare with new generation from gas at £147/MWh and new nuclear power at £124/MWh.

The results come just weeks after the results of the AR7 auction for offshore wind which saw the UK achieve the single biggest procurement of capacity that Europe has ever seen. AR7 as a whole is the largest CfD round ever in awarded capacity with 14.7GW across 201 projects. The next largest rounds were AR4 which awarded 10.8GW and AR6 which awarded 9.6GW.  

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “These results shows once again that clean British power is the right choice for our country, agreeing a price for new onshore wind and solar that is over 50% cheaper than the cost of building and operating new gas.”

RenewableUK said the investment in renewables is “crucial” to keep pace with the UK’s growing electricity demand.