Proposed refinements for Allocation Round 8 and future rounds

From:: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Published: 16 December 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Summary

We're seeking views on several refinements to ensure that the CfD continues to reflect current policy and that the scheme continues to function as originally intended.

This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 30 January 2026

Consultation description

This consultation seeks views on proposed refinements to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) contract terms in advance of Allocation Round 8 (AR8). The proposals in this consultation cover a range of areas, including:

policy on surrendered CfD capacity – making permanent the restriction on bidding previously surrendered capacity into future rounds to protect auction integrity and deployment timelines
hybrid metering for single technology/ multiple commercial arrangements – enabling CfD and merchant assets of the same technology to share metering infrastructure, reducing costs
contractual changes for floating offshore wind (FLOW) – extending the Longstop Period and reducing the Required Installed Capacity threshold to reflect the scale and complexity of future projects
introducing a new technology category for Other Deepwater Offshore Wind (ODOW) – enabling innovative foundation designs for deepwater sites to compete for CfD support
changes to improve scheme efficiency – proposed legislative amendments to allow the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to correct errors made during the assessment of CfD applications and consider new documentary evidence to clarify non-material errors and omissions in applications, and minor adjustments to improve administration of the pending applications process
strengthening Unilateral Commercial Operations Notice (UCON) provisions – improving metering access and enforcement to prevent distribution-connected generators from delaying CfD start dates and operating on a merchant basis at elevated wholesale prices
excluding applications with Gate 1 connection offers – aligning CfD eligibility with grid connection reforms to prioritise projects with firm connection dates
visibility of sealed bids – changing our approach on the ability of the Secretary of State to see bids for AR8
minor and technical changes to the CfD contract terms to update the CPI inflation factor and amend the definition of Inside Information
in addition, to provide a policy update on fixing the appeals timeline

Together, these reforms are designed to maintain investor confidence, support timely delivery of renewable capacity, and ensure the CfD remains fit for purpose as projects scale up in size and complexity.

The proposed drafting changes are shown as tracked amendments in the CfD contract documents, published alongside the consultation document. We welcome responses from anyone with an interest in the proposals, in particular those considering participating in AR8.

Read our consultation privacy notice.

Documents