UK offshore auction results: Cost reductions of more than 50 percent

UK offshore auction results: Cost reductions of more than 50 percent

The offshore wind projects Triton Knoll (860 MW), Hornsea Project 2 (1386 MW) and Moray Offshore Windfarm East (950 MW) are the winners of the second British auction round based on the Contracts for Difference (CfD) principle. Together the three projects will provide 3.2 GW of new capacity in the UK, enough to power 3.3 million homes by 2023.

As announced by the UK Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on September 11th, the projects will receive the following guaranteed price per MWh:

  • Triton Knoll (innogy 50%, Statkraft 50%), - 74.75 GBP,
  • Hornsea Project 2 (DONG 100%) – 57.50 GBP,
  • Moray East (EDP 77%, Engie 23%) – 57.50 GBP.

The announced offshore wind prices are significantly cheaper than the cost of the 35-year contracts for new nuclear power of £92.50 per megawatt hour, and cheaper than the levelised cost of gas.

According to the UK Government Department, the cost of offshore wind projects are now 50% lower than the first auction held in 2015, when comparing the lowest clearing price for successful offshore wind projects commissioning in 2018/19 and the lowest clearing price for offshore wind projects commissioning in 2022/23. These reductions are due to the rapidly maturing industry, technology development and economies of scale. The UK Government’s long-term commitment to offshore wind has also had a positive impact. The new projects will provide a welcome stimulus to the offshore wind industry, creating investment and supporting high-skilled jobs in the UK.

The winning projects will receive the respective remuneration for a period of 15 years. The payments include the costs for the construction of the grid connections, which in the UK are financed by the project operators/developers. The first projects are set to be commissioned in 2022/23.

 

> Press release UK Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

> Press release DONG

> Press release innogy

> Press release EDP / Engie

> Press release WindEUROPE