Record offshore contracts auction follows Prospect’s call for greater ambition

A record 8.4GW of renewable energy has been secured in the latest round of government auctions for offshore contracts, just a month after Prospect and industry bodies had called for an uplift in the government’s budget.

The latest auction, known as Contracts for Difference AR7, has secured what the government says is ‘the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history.’

If delivered in full, it will be enough to power 12 million homes and will help the UK reach its target of achieving clean energy by 2030.

In early December 2025, Prospect was a co-signatory, with other unions and industry bodies, on a letter to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Energy Security.

It stated: ‘We write to request an uplift to the budget for this year’s ‘Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round (AR7)’ to unlock investment in a greater number of offshore wind projects, to ensure good value for billpayers, as well as the delivery of the Government’s stated policy ambitions in energy security, economic growth and the Industrial Strategy.’

The letter can be read in full here.

Sue Ferns, Prospect Senior Deputy General Secretary said, “Industry and unions argued for an ambitious approach to this auction round, and it is welcome that the government has delivered with an exciting pipeline of clean power projects.

“Offshore wind is not only crucial for keeping the lights on and driving down bills, it has the potential to create thousands of good clean energy jobs across the country.

“Unions and industry have been working together with government on the Clean Energy Jobs Plan and will now be working to ensure we get the maximum amount of good-quality, unionised jobs out of these new projects.”