Contracts for Difference

In a statement to the House of Commons, the minister congratulated the new Deputy Speaker and provided an update on the results of the sixth contracts for difference allocation round. The minister highlighted that the previous government had left the country exposed to volatile international fossil fuel markets, leading to a severe cost-of-living and energy bills crisis. The only way to ensure energy security, the minister argued, is through home-grown clean energy that the country controls. The minister then went on to detail the results of the latest auction, which the minister described as a record-breaking success. The auction secured 131 new clean energy projects, more than any previous auction, with a significant increase in capacity compared to the previous year. This includes a record 93 solar photovoltaic projects, unlocking 3.3 GW of new solar power, a 20% increase on the country's installed capacity. The minister also noted that the auction secured almost 1 GW of onshore wind, but lamented that due to the previous government's "near total ban" on onshore wind in England, there was only one small 8 MW project in that part of the country. The minister stated that this government has lifted the onshore wind ban and will work with industry to rebuild the pipeline of projects. Furthermore, the minister highlighted the success of the auction in securing a 400 MW floating offshore wind project, which is more than 10 times bigger than the previous largest floating offshore wind farm in the country. The minister described this as a major step forward in the government's mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower and help the country move away from dependence on volatile global gas markets.