The application window for the UK’s seventh Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation round opened 7 August 2025, and will remain open until 27 August. Applications must be submitted through NESO’s EMR CfD Portal.
The CfD scheme is a key part of the UK’s strategy to decarbonise its electricity system and expand renewable capacity. So far, the scheme and its predecessor investment contracts have supported the delivery of 10GW of clean energy, with another 23GW expected online by 2030.
Allocation Round 7 (AR7) is the first of three rounds scheduled before the end of the decade and is central to the UK’s target of achieving a fully decarbonised power system by 2035. Fixed bottom and floating offshore wind projects are expected to play a significant role.
The timeline for AR7 will follow one of five possible scenarios depending on whether applicants challenge the outcome of the qualification process. The earliest possible results could be issued in December 2025, while the longest route could extend to February 2026.
More information, including application guidance and a detailed timeline, is available on the official CfD publications page.
