The application window to enter this year’s CfD Allocation Round 6 officially closed today (19 April).
Developers had until 5pm to enter eligible projects into the auction ahead of the week-long window for qualifying applicants to make sealed bids, opening on 31 May.
A record 10GW+ of offshore wind capacity was eligible to enter the race to land a CfD deal from Pot 3, for which an overall budget of £800m and a maximum strike price of £73 per megawatt-hour has been set.
Eligible capacity would have been bolstered by SSE Renewables’ 4.1GW Berwick Bank wind farm off east Scotland had the developer received a permit decision from the Scottish government by today.
A determination had initially been expected by the end of last year after an application was filed for the 307-turbine array with Marine Scotland in December 2022.
The developer has now renewed its calls for Edinburgh to green light what would be the world’s largest wind farm.
SSE argued a positive determination is needed “as soon as possible” to provide supply chain and investor confidence and keep Scotland and the UK on track to meet end-decade deployment targets.
It is understood to be pushing for a decision by early summer.
A spokesman added: “The sooner Berwick Bank is consented, the sooner we can get on with unlocking the potential economic opportunities of offshore wind in Scotland, growing the domestic supply chain, and delivering against Scottish and UK offshore wind targets to ensure energy security for future generations.”
The Scottish government said it would not comment on live applications but a decision on Berwick Bank “will be taken by Ministers in due course”.