UK Energy Department BEIS is not planning a standalone pot for floating wind, it is understood, despite earlier reports to the contrary.
BEIS Secretary Alok Sharma appeared to indicate Thursday at an Environmental Audit Committee hearing that floating would be given access to a separate pot.
In response to a specific question on the matter from committee chairman Philip Dunne, Sharma said: “We have done a consultation on this and floating wind is certainly something has merit and I do believe it will be included.”
Sharma asked BEIS energy transformation director general Julian Critchlow if that was correct. Critchlow replied: “Yes, I understand we are looking to bring forward floating offshore wind.”
However, it is understood that the comments were not indicative of floating being given a standalone pot but rather that it will be included in the CfD round with other technologies.
BEIS earlier this year consulted on changes to the 2021 CfD, including classifying floating as a separate technology with a distinct administrative strike price in pot 2 for so-called less established technologies alongside offshore wind.
Meanwhile, the BEIS Secretary also said the long-awaited Energy White Paper is due out before the end of the year.
Sharma told the committee that hydrogen will be part of the policy document.
However, a separate strategy for the gas is likely come at some point “early next year”, he added.