First contract for offshore wind farm in Wales in a decade

The UK Government’s DESNZ has announced the winners of the seventh allocation round for the Contracts for Difference (CfD AR7), taking a monumental step towards clean power for Great Britain.

In the single largest procurement of offshore wind energy in European and British history, AR7 confirmed 8.4GW of energy capacity, delivered through 12 new wind farms around off the coast of Britain.

Net Zero North West particularly welcomes the news that Awel Y Mor Offshore Wind Farm has been successful in securing a contract – a first for offshore wind in Wales in more than a decade.

Following a successful AR7 in January 2026, the Government announced Allocation Round 7a in February 2026, further demonstrating their commitment to creating a diverse energy generation mix in the UK.

Creating capacity for 4.9 GW from Solar PV and 1.3 GW from Onshore Wind, both technologies cleared the auction round at a strike price well below the cost of new gas generation, showing renewed confidence in the CfD methodology, for both developers and the Government.

We will be working with key sector partners including The Offshore Energy Alliance, local manufacturers and training providers to strengthen regional supply chains, delivering value through skills, employment, investment and trade into communities across North Wales and the North West of England.

Source Link: https://mailchi.mp/8c3fc6abd984/decarbonisation-debrief-february-2026?e=b8fb3418b8