The UK government has started accepting applications for the CfD AR8 round, until August 7, 2026
Utility-scale solar projects above 5 MW are among the technologies eligible to compete for CfD contracts
The government has also confirmed a £515 million Clean Industry Bonus budget for AR8
The UK government has officially opened Allocation Round 8 (AR8) of its Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, inviting applications from eligible renewable energy projects, including ground-mounted solar PV.
Utility-scale solar is among the eligible technologies competing for long-term revenue support. Solar PV projects with a capacity above 5 MW are eligible to participate under Pot 1, comprising established technologies.
The strike price for solar PV projects is the lowest among competing technologies at £75/MWh, matching the level in the AR7 round. This, the government explains, has been done with a view to providing stability between allocation rounds and encouraging competitive prices.
In the previous round, solar PV secured a clearing price of £65.23/MWh, representing savings of 13.03% (see UK AR7 Awards Record 4.9 GW Of Solar PV Under CfD Scheme).
The government says it would have visibility of anonymized bids for solar PV, onshore wind (including remote island wind) and offshore wind in AR8. This means that it will be able to see bid details but not the identity of the developer, giving it greater oversight of bid prices and more flexibility to achieve value for money. Successful projects will be awarded 20-year CfD contracts.
Ahead of the launch, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published the Final Budget Notice for the Clean Industry Bonus, confirming a £515 million budget for AR8. The government said part of this funding has been ring-fenced for floating offshore wind proposals under the Clean Industry Bonus framework.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO), acting as the Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Body, will manage the application and allocation process.
The application window opened on 20 July 2026 and will close on 7 August 2026, according to the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the implementing agency of the scheme. Applications can be submitted via NESO’s website.
Earlier, the government had announced that solar energy developers planning to submit projects with over 300 MW capacity will be required to submit a Supply Chain Plan (see UK Mandates Solar PV Supply Chain Plans For Allocation Round 8).
