CfD Stakeholder Bulletin — 13 December 2021
Summary
DESNZ opened CfD Allocation Round 4 to applications on 13 December 2021. The department clarified that flexible bids in AR4 may have different capacities and target dates from the original application, subject to existing regulations and allocation framework rules. The FAQ section was updated to remove ambiguity.
Why it matters
This administrative clarification removes a constraint on bidding flexibility, allowing developers to adjust capacity and timing across their sealed bid portfolio. The change marginally favours larger developers with multiple project variants over single-project applicants.
Key facts
- •AR4 opened 13 December 2021
- •Flexible bids may differ in capacity and target dates from original application
- •FAQ updated to clarify bidding rules
Timeline
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
Contracts for Difference: Stakeholder Bulletin 13 December 2021 Allocation Round 4 opens The fourth allocation round of the Contracts for Difference scheme has opened to applications today (13 December 2021). • Read the government press release Clarification on flexible bids It has been brought to the attention of the government that there is ambiguity in information published in the Allocation Framework for Allocation Round 4 (AR4) and on the AR4 microsite in relation to flexible bids. Specifically, this relates to whether any of an applicant’s sealed bids need to have the same capacity and/or target dates as those in their original application. The government would like to clarify that, for the purposes of AR4, there is no requirement for any of the sealed bids to have the same capacity and/or target dates as those in the original application, but all flexible bids may have differing capacities and/or target dates, subject to the other constraints of the Contracts for Difference (Allocation) Regulations 2014 (as amended) and Rules 11 and 12 of the Allocation Framework. The Frequently Asked Questions on the AR4 microsite have been updated to reflect this. The government intends to address any remaining ambiguities in the Allocation Framework in this regard ahead of future allocation rounds. UK General Data Protection Regulation This stakeholder bulletin is being circulated to people who have opted in to the Contracts for Difference stakeholder contact list. We issue these stakeholder bulletins as a convenience to interested parties, however it is not in any way essential to be on this list to participate in major consultations or allocation rounds. Purpose & scope of this list: This list is managed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) (and any successor departments) and will be used to inform interested parties of policy developments relevant to the Contracts for Difference scheme for renewable energy projects (and any direct successor schemes). It is not used for any other purposes. To be removed from the circulation list: Please send a blank e-mail with the subject ‘opt out’ (if the receiving e-mail you use is different to the one you send the e-mail from, include that e-mail address in the subject of the e-mail) to BEISContractsForDifference@beis.gov.uk. If you have received this indirectly and want to be added to this list: Send a blank e-mail with the subject line ‘opt in’ to BEISContractsForDifference@beis.gov.uk. You can withdraw your consent to opt in at any time. We will normally keep your address on this list until you: a) withdraw your consent to opt in, b) the scheme closes without any successor, c) we receive reports your email address is no longer operational, or d) you do not respond to a periodic request from us to reconfirm your desire to opt in.