On the back of its procurement of 8.4GW of offshore wind, the UK is set to procure a record high 4.9GW of solar power. The procurement – conducted through the government’s Contracts for Differences (CfD) auctions – brings Britain’s total clean energy procurement thus far to 14.7GW.
CfD contracts are awarded through the government-owned Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC). By providing developers with price stability for large-scale projects, auctions are designed to accelerate investment into clean energy generation.
“Together these projects will provide new renewable electricity generation at scale, particularly when paired with the record offshore wind capacity contracted in AR7”, says LCCC chief executive Neil McDermott.
Net Zero Investor’s Renewable Infrastructure Forum 2026: 18th March, The Chesterfield Mayfair
Affordable energy
The latest auction results for solar energy bring along significant price competitiveness.
Strike price for new solar projects was agreed at £65.23/MWh. Strike price for onshore wind, announced alongside today’s results, was set at £72.24/MWh.
By comparison, the strike price for newly built gas power stations is £147/MWh.
“By backing solar and onshore wind at scale, we’re driving bills down for good and protecting families, businesses, and our country from the fossil fuel rollercoaster controlled by petrostates and dictators”, commented UK energy secretary Ed Miliband.
Chris Stark, who heads the country’s Clean Power 2030 Mission agrees that auction results show evidence in favour of clean energy promoting the country’s energy security. “With each new solar and onshore wind project we reduce Britain’s reliance on gas power plants, insulating families from the next spike in global gas prices”, he said.
Amongst the winners is a solar farm in West Burton, home to the country’s last coal power plant that was shut down nearly three years ago. The farm is now the largest solar power recipient of a government contract.
The government’s estimates suggest winning projects will unlock a combined £5bn in additional private sector investment.
