MPs question lack of offshore wind farm bids

CONSERVATIVE MPs have urged ministers to learn lessons from the failure to attract new offshore wind farms to a key energy project auction.

Last week, no new offshore wind farms were commissioned in an auction process which let companies bid to supply electricity to the grid, though onshore wind projects and solar farms did receive contracts.

The announcement put a dent in ministers' promise to deliver 50 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, from 14 gigawatts today.

In the Commons, Tory MPs pressed the Government to ensure major offshore wind projects planned for their areas get the funding needed in future.

North Devon MP Selaine Saxby said: "There were three floating offshore wind projects due to bid in AR5 (allocation round) and none did due to the low administrative strike price.

"As chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Celtic Sea, I have repeatedly been told that these projects are part of our future energy supply, and I wonder if the minister could outline what steps he is taking to ensure these projects do float in AR6 and give confidence to developers in the region?"