Scottish Renewables wants the UK government to “act now” if Scotland is to be able to unlock its pipeline of offshore wind projects in line with its climate ambitions.
Ahead of the funding pot for the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) round being announced in March, Scottish Renewables has written to the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, calling for an auction budget in Allocation Round Six (AR6) that maximises the capacity procured across all technologies and to adjust the reference prices and load factors for all technologies, with accurate reference prices and load factors noted as crucial to maximising the capacity that the auction budget can procure.
Further recommendations include a ringfenced budget for floating offshore wind and increasing the budget ringfenced for tidal stream projects.
Commenting, Scottish Renewables’ Chief Executive, Claire Mack, said: “The UK Government faces a choice between further energy insecurity or future economic prosperity. With the UK remaining one of the most gas dependent economies in Europe, underperformance in AR6 will leave UK consumers less energy secure and more exposed to high, volatile gas prices. It is therefore essential that the UK Government provides a budget for AR6 that aligns with Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions and maximises the number of projects across all technologies that are successful in winning contracts.”
