UK Renewable Auctions Reach 14.7 GW of New Clean Power
The United Kingdom has secured its largest-ever expansion of clean electricity, locking in 14.7 GW of new renewable capacity across offshore wind, onshore wind, solar and tidal power — enough to supply the equivalent of 16 million homes.
The latest auction round delivered a record 4.9 GW of solar, alongside major onshore wind and tidal stream projects. Combined with last month’s record-breaking offshore wind procurement — the largest seen in Europe — the government has now confirmed 201 projects in total, marking a decisive acceleration toward its 2030 clean power target.
At the heart of the announcement is cost. New solar has been agreed at £65.23/MWh, and onshore wind at £72.24/MWh — both less than half the estimated £147/MWh cost of new gas-fired generation. Once operational, the projects are expected to lower wholesale electricity prices and reduce exposure to fossil fuel volatility, which has driven repeated energy shocks over recent decades.
Several flagship projects underline the scale of the shift. The Imerys Wind Farm in Cornwall becomes the largest onshore wind project approved in England in a decade. Sanquhar II in Scotland will rank among the UK’s largest onshore wind farms. Meanwhile, West Burton Solar Farm — located at the site of Britain’s last coal-fired power station — will become the largest solar project ever awarded a government renewables contract, symbolically replacing coal with clean generation.
Beyond generation capacity, the auction is expected to unlock around £5 billion in private investment and support up to 10,000 jobs, reinforcing renewables as both infrastructure policy and industrial strategy.
The scale of procurement reflects a broader shift in the UK energy system. As electricity demand rises — driven by electrification, transport and digital infrastructure — expanding domestic clean generation is increasingly framed not only as a climate measure but as a matter of economic stability and energy sovereignty.
Alongside large-scale projects, the government has also advanced its Local Power Plan, backed by up to £1 billion to support community-owned energy schemes across the country, widening participation in the clean energy transition.
Taken together, the latest auction results represent one of the most significant single expansions of Britain’s power system in decades — strengthening energy independence while reshaping the UK’s electricity mix for the years ahead.