Companies Iberdrola SA FollowLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Britain will increase the guaranteed price offered for offshore wind projects in its next renewables auction by 66%, the government said on Thursday, as it seeks to spur more projects after its last auction failed to attract any offshore wind investment.
Britain, which is already the world’s second largest offshore wind market after China, is seeking to ramp up its capacity to 50 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 from around 14 GW now, to help meet its climate targets and boost energy security.
The offshore wind sector has been hit by surging supply chain and interest rate costs over the past year with some developers cancelling projects, while Britain's last auction yielded no offshore wind projects when the results were announced in September with developer saying the price offered was too low.
The government said despite the absence of offshore wind, the last auction had succeeded in supporting other technologies such as solar, tidal and onshore wind projects capable of generating 3.7 GW, the equivalent to powering some 2 million homes.
“The real test of that ambition will come when the overall budget for the next auction round is set next year.
Persons:
Claire Coutinho, ”, ” Keith Anderson, ScottishPower, Susanna Twidale, Marguerita Choy
Organizations:
” Energy, Thomson
Locations:
Britain, China