Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7: Potential Amendments to Relax Eligibility for Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind
This consultation is open for responses
Respond to this consultationSummary
DESNZ consults on drafting changes to CfD Standard Terms and Conditions to allow unconsented fixed-bottom offshore wind projects to bid in Allocation Round 7. The changes would relax eligibility requirements that currently require projects to have consents before bidding. AR7 is scheduled to open in summer 2025.
Why it matters
This would accelerate offshore wind deployment by allowing projects to secure revenue certainty before completing the lengthy consenting process. As such, it transfers development risk from developers to consumers, who would pay for projects that might fail to secure planning permission.
Key facts
- •Allocation Round 7 opens summer 2025
- •Applies to fixed-bottom offshore wind only
- •Would allow unconsented projects to bid
- •Final policy decision not yet confirmed
Timeline
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
This consultation seeks views on potential drafting changes to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Standard Terms and Conditions (STCs) in advance of Allocation Round 7 (AR7), which is scheduled to open in summer 2025. The proposed changes concern potential amendments to the CfD STCs for practical implementation of the proposal to relax eligibility requirements for unconsented fixed-bottom offshore wind projects, should the Government decide to proceed with the policy. The potential scheme changes set out in this consultation are without prejudice to a final Government decision on whether to proceed with this policy, which will be confirmed ahead of AR7.