The UK government has awarded nine new offshore wind farm contracts, revitalizing its green energy efforts after last year’s auction failed due to unattractive pricing. These contracts, along with tidal and solar projects, aim to power 11 million homes and are critical to meeting the UK’s renewable energy targets.
Key projects include Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4, set to become Europe’s largest wind farms, developed by Danish company Ørsted. Despite this progress, experts warn that the 4.9GW of capacity added is still far from the 60GW target the Labour government has set for 2030.
Scottish Power’s CEO, Keith Anderson, praised the contracts, saying they put the sector "back on track." However, Pranav Menon of Aurora Energy Research noted that much more capacity is needed, with next year’s auction likely being the last chance to secure enough for 2030.
Environmental groups, like Greenpeace, welcomed the new capacity but cautioned that it falls short of what’s necessary. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called the contracts a "significant step forward" but acknowledged challenges ahead.
Meanwhile, UK households face rising energy costs, with typical bills expected to increase by £149 in October, reaching £1,717 annually. While the long-term goal is to reduce energy prices through greater independence, immediate relief for consumers remains out of reach.
