The UK government has secured a monumental clean energy deal, awarding contracts for new offshore wind farms with the capacity to power 12 million British homes. The results of the record-breaking auction, announced on Wednesday 14 January 2026, mark the largest single procurement of offshore wind energy in European history.
A Historic Auction for Energy Sovereignty
This highly competitive bidding round for renewable subsidies saw energy companies secure contracts guaranteeing a price for the clean power they generate. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) hailed the auction as a major vote of confidence in the UK's energy sovereignty, successfully navigating global industry challenges.
Funding was awarded for a colossal 8.4 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind capacity. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband declared the result a historic win, stating it puts Britain on the path to controlling its own energy future. "It is a monumental step towards clean power by 2030," Miliband said.
Driving Down Costs and Boosting Investment
The financial details reveal a stunning advantage for renewable power. The contract prices were secured at between £89.49 and £91.20 per megawatt-hour (MWh). In a stark comparison, the cost for building and operating a new gas-fired power station on the same day was shown to be £147 per MWh.
Miliband emphasised that the price secured is 40% lower than the gas alternative. This deal is expected to bring down bills permanently while attracting around £22 billion in private investment and supporting approximately 7,000 jobs across the country.
Major Projects and Strategic Goals
The auction results are a crucial victory for the government's 2030 clean electricity target. Securing the forecasted 8.4GW of new capacity keeps the UK on track to remove almost all fossil fuels from its electricity supply by the end of the decade.
A total of 12 new offshore projects have been awarded, including nine last year. The landmark sites are among the world's largest:
- Berwick Bank in the North Sea – the first new Scottish project since 2022 and the largest planned offshore wind farm globally.
- Dogger Bank South off Yorkshire and Norfolk Vanguard off the East Anglian coast – two of the world's biggest offshore wind farms.
- Awel Y Mor in the Irish Sea – the first Welsh project to win a contract in over a decade.
This record-breaking auction not only represents a massive leap towards energy independence and climate goals but also establishes the UK as a dominant force in the European renewable energy landscape.
