WindEurope Voices Concerns over Latest UK Seabed Leasing Round

Wind Industry Profile of

Yesterday the Crown Estate announced the results of its Round 4 seabed leasing for offshore wind in the UK.

The Offshore Wind Lease Round 4 allocated areas for developing nearly 8 GW of capacity. This is too little new capacity considering the huge ambitions the UK Government has to quadruple its offshore wind to 40 GW by 2030. Moreover the leasing round introduced a new bidding system that makes investors pay an upfront ‘option fee’ for the right to develop projects. This ‘option fee’ will be paid annually until companies get the final planning permission, which they need to then bid in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction. The planning process could take up to 10 years. This is the first time anywhere in Europe that a bidding process to... ... More: Official Press Release WindEurope

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WindEurope, The Crown Estate, UK, lease, auction, option fee, concern, offshore, wind farm, developer, CfD, net zero, ambition, industry, site, risk