UK Secures Record 14.7 GW of Clean Energy in Historic Renewables Auction
The UK announces record renewable energy auction with 157 solar projects and major onshore wind developments.
Key Points
- The UK government awarded contracts to 201 renewable projects generating 14.7 GW of clean power, enough to supply 16 million homes.
- Record 4.9 GW of solar capacity secured across 157 projects, the largest procurement of solar projects in UK history.
- Onshore wind secured 1.3 GW across 28 projects at £72.24/MWh, alongside tidal energy developments totaling 20.9 MW capacity.
- Combined with January offshore wind results, the auction unlocks £5 billion in private sector investment and supports up to 10,000 jobs.
Auction Details and Pricing
The United Kingdom announced results from its Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 on February 10, 2026, securing 14.7 GW of renewable energy capacity across 201 projects1. The auction builds on January’s record offshore wind results, delivering the largest-ever clean energy procurement in British history.
Solar projects secured 4.9 GW of capacity across 157 developments at a strike price of £65.23/MWh in 2024 prices, down from £70/MWh in the previous auction. Onshore wind projects totaling 1.3 GW across 28 developments were awarded contracts at £72.24/MWh, slightly up from £71/MWh in 2024.
The government emphasized that both solar and onshore wind prices are over 50% cheaper than the £147/MWh cost of building and operating new gas power stations. The 20-year fixed-price contracts are inflation-linked, providing certainty to developers and reassurance on investment returns.
| Technology | Capacity Secured | Number of Projects | Strike Price (£/MWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 4.9 GW | 157 | £65.23 |
| Onshore Wind | 1.3 GW | 28 | £72.24 |
| Tidal | 20.9 MW | 4 | N/A |
| Offshore Wind (Jan) | 8.4 GW | 12 | N/A |
Key Projects Awarded Contracts
Several nationally significant projects secured government contracts, marking a resurgence in UK solar and onshore wind development after years of policy constraints.
The West Burton solar farm in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire became the largest solar project ever to win a government renewables contract. The Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project transforms the site of Britain’s last coal-fired power station into a major solar energy hub, symbolizing the country’s energy transition.
The Imerys Wind Farm in Cornwall emerged as the largest onshore wind project successful in England in a decade, helping rebuild an industry that had stagnated under the previous government’s de facto onshore wind ban. In Scotland, the Sanquhar II Wind Farm in Dumfries and Galloway became the fourth largest onshore wind farm in the United Kingdom, driving regional growth and private investment.
Four tidal stream projects totaling 20.9 MW capacity also received contracts. While tidal energy remains expensive compared to wind and solar, the government views these projects as strategic investments in emerging technology that could become cost-effective in future while supporting green jobs and energy security.
Economic Impact and Investment
The renewable energy projects are expected to unlock £5 billion in private sector investment and support up to 10,000 jobs at peak construction and operation. Job estimates represent the maximum number of direct and indirect positions across solar and onshore wind sectors, calculated using Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published methodologies.
Once operational, the projects will reduce household energy bills by driving down wholesale electricity prices and protecting families from fossil fuel price volatility. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated the move demonstrates that clean British power is cheaper than gas, with renewable prices over 50% below the cost of new gas power plants.
The auction results position the United Kingdom on track toward its 2030 clean power target of at least 95% clean electricity generation. However, most energy analysts maintain serious doubts about whether the target is achievable given the number of projects still requiring construction and grid connection.
The government also announced its Local Power Plan alongside the auction results, committing up to £1 billion through Great British Energy for community-owned renewable projects. The fund enables communities across the United Kingdom to own and control local clean energy infrastructure, building community wealth through public investment.
Political Reactions and Context
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized the energy security implications of the auction results, stating that backing solar and onshore wind at scale drives bills down while protecting families from “the fossil fuel rollercoaster controlled by petrostates and dictators.”
Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control, said the record results provide “more homegrown power, greater energy security, at a good price for the consumer,” noting that each new project reduces Britain’s reliance on gas power plants and insulates families from future gas price spikes.
Opposition Conservative shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho criticized the approach, claiming Ed Miliband is “loading more and more wind and solar on to the grid before the grid can handle it,” arguing the true cost including network charges and backup is far higher.
The auction follows wider government action to reduce energy costs, including removing an average £150 from household bills from April and delivering major public investment in home energy upgrades through the Warm Homes Plan.
Solar energy currently provides over 6% of Great Britain’s electricity, rising to more than 40% during peak summer periods. The government targets 45-47 GW of solar capacity by 2030, potentially reaching 54-57 GW with additional rooftop installations, up from approximately 21-24 GW as of autumn 2025.