AR7 Delivers Record Offshore Wind Boost, but Grid Readiness and Delivery Now Under the Spotlight

  Posted by: electime      15th January 2026

Yesterday’s AR7 auction results marked a watershed moment for UK offshore wind, with a record number of projects securing contracts and renewed confidence in the Government’s Clean Power 2030 ambition. While the scale of capacity awarded has been widely welcomed, it has also reignited debate about whether grid infrastructure, delivery pace and system readiness can keep up. The perspectives below reflect a mix of optimism and caution from across the sector, highlighting both the significance of AR7 and the practical challenges that now come into sharper focus as the industry shifts from ambition to execution.

David Pownall, Vice President of Power Systems at Schneider Electric UK & Ireland, states below why grid readiness, digital investment, and system flexibility will be critical if the UK is to turn offshore wind ambition into reliable, affordable power: 

“The UK’s record supply of offshore wind projects is a significant step in the trajectory towards Clean Power 2030 – it’s also a marked improvement on last year’s result so a moment to celebrate. But we shouldn’t call this a resounding success. Challenges lie ahead. Without modernising grid infrastructure which can connect new wind power to grid, these new assets risk being heavily curtailed.

“As a country, we face a major challenge to bring our transmission network up to speed with the rate of offshore wind farms being built. To fully harness the potential of renewables we need a smarter, more flexible infrastructure that can efficiently distribute green energy across the country.

“Investing now, and investing in the right digital technology, will cut costs, attract private capital, and accelerate the UK’s transition to a secure, net-zero electricity system. Securing energy independence in this way will be critical to meeting increased demand for power across sectors and driving the UK’s competitiveness.

“A modern, resilient grid is essential to delivering affordable, sustainable energy for the future.”

Sam Hollister, Head of UK Market Strategy, at LCP Delta comments:

“Today’s long-awaited CfD AR7 announcement is a seismic moment in the Government’s pursuit of clean power. The government has taken the unexpected decision to double its original budget and go all out in the race for offshore wind. It has certainly put itself back in the driving seat to meet the UK’s Clean Power 2030 target.

“With around 8.5GW of offshore wind projects contracts signed, AR7 becomes a record-breaking auction and provides a clear boost to investors in Great Britain that the government is set on its Clean Power Mission in spite of the challenges with deliverability, supply chain pressures and consumer costs.

“The government has taken the option to increase its original budget and procure almost twice as much offshore wind power on behalf of customers than originally expected. By providing developers with 20-year contracts, DESNZ ensures stable investor returns, clear development pipelines, while reducing customer exposure to gas price volatility and supply shocks.”

Andy Sloan, Executive Vice President, COWI UK & International said:

“In a pivotal year for offshore wind AR7 has surpassed expectations, validating the government’s updates to the CfD auction format. Securing 8.4GW is a landmark outcome, showing the mechanism can still deliver at scale in a more challenging environment. The decision to increase the budget to award additional projects that demonstrated strong value for the taxpayer was the biggest driver of this result and shows the level of ambition required to maintain the UK’s global offshore wind leadership position.

“This was the largest and most competitive offshore wind auction the UK has ever run, underlining the depth of opportunity in a pipeline that is the envy of markets around the world. We are back on the right track, but this is not a moment to rest on laurels. AR8 will be just as pivotal: developers must continue advancing projects between rounds, supply chains need to keep investing in capacity and momentum must be maintained in auction design and budget ambition.”

Ian Milne, Head of Sales & Business Development – Renewables at Balmoral Comtec said:

“The scale of capacity secured in AR7 is a strong signal that the UK offshore wind market is moving decisively into a delivery phase. The UK supply chain is not starting from zero. It is ready, with proven capability, facilities and people in place. What this auction provides is the clarity and momentum needed to unlock that capability at scale. Offshore wind is entering a phase where success will be defined less by ambition and more by execution. Turning these announcements into operational offshore wind projects will be defined by pace and coordination across operators, EPCs and the supply chain.”