Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UK Clean-Power Auction Awards Record 14.7GW in AR7, Led by Solar

Officials say the contracts undercut the cost of new gas generation.

Overview

  • Allocation Round 7 awarded 201 projects totalling 14.7GW, including 4.9GW of solar across 157 sites, 1,306MW of onshore wind and 20.9MW of tidal stream.
  • Strike prices cleared at £65.23/MWh for solar and £72.24/MWh for onshore wind, compared with an estimated £147/MWh for new gas plants.
  • DESNZ estimates the round will draw roughly £5 billion in private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs.
  • The 28 onshore wind projects will supply power for over 1.2 million homes, deliver more than £6.5 million in community benefit funds and avoid about 1.46 million tonnes of CO2.
  • The government also announced a Local Power Plan worth up to £1 billion for community energy, as Devon CPRE objects to large solar and wind schemes over landscape and consent concerns.