UK awards 8.4 GW offshore wind capacity in CfD Round 7

The United Kingdom Government has awarded contracts for 8.4 GW of new offshore wind capacity under its seventh Contracts for Difference allocation round. The round is expected to attract £3.4 billion in private investment and support up to 7,000 jobs across the country.

Allocation Round 7 (AR7) is expected to deliver enough electricity to power more than 12 million homes. The programme includes £204 million of public funding through the Clean Industry Bonus, aimed at strengthening the domestic supply chain, particularly in economically weaker regions. The government has stated that the offshore wind sector is projected to support around 100,000 jobs across the UK by 2030.

German energy company RWE secured the largest share of the awarded capacity. The company won Contracts for Difference (CfDs) for a total of 6.9 GW across five offshore wind projects. These include the Norfolk Vanguard East and West projects and the Dogger Bank South East and West projects in the North Sea, along with the Awel y Môr project in the Irish Sea. All awarded projects received a strike price of £91.2 per megawatt hour, adjusted for inflation.

RWE also announced a partnership with global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co (KKR). Under the agreement, KKR will acquire a 50 percent stake in the Norfolk Vanguard East and West projects, subject to regulatory approvals expected in summer 2026.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the investment would support industrial revival and deliver economic benefits, including for Scotland. RWE Chief Executive Officer Markus Krebber said the partnership with KKR combines offshore wind development experience with long term investment capacity. The government expects the projects to drive supply chain investment at ports such as Nigg and Aberdeen, as well as manufacturing facilities across Britain.

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