RenewableUK has welcomed news that the next auction for new clean energy projects, Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8, will be opened in July.
The UK Government has announced that it intends to bring forward the next annual renewables auction to July, inviting renewables companies to invest in UK energy.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband made the announcement as part of a package of measures the UK Government said was designed to increase national energy security as a response to events in the Middle East.
RenewableUK Chief Executive Tara Singh said:
“Bringing forward the next Contracts for Difference auction is an important step towards strengthening Britain’s energy security. Recent global events have shown, yet again, how exposed we remain to shocks in international fossil-fuel markets, and the best way to reduce that vulnerability is to generate more of our own electricity here in the UK, at the stable prices wind and solar offer.
“There could be as many as 18 offshore wind farms potentially competing for contracts, alongside new onshore wind and solar sites. A high level of competition between projects is exactly what delivers the best value for billpayers. To secure it, developers need clear and decisive action on grid connection dates, charges and delivery timelines, so that projects can bid with confidence.”
