The United Kingdom government has published its response to the consultation on regulatory reforms for the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Clean Industry Bonus ahead of Allocation Round 8 (AR8), outlining how the mechanism will operate and confirming elements that will continue into Allocation Round 9 (AR9).
The Clean Industry Bonus is designed to encourage offshore wind developers to prioritise investment in supply chains and communities that support the domestic clean energy transition, while maintaining competitive auction outcomes.
For AR8, the government confirmed regulatory refinements intended to improve clarity, reduce administrative burden and strengthen alignment between the bonus and broader industrial strategy objectives. Measures include clearer eligibility and assessment criteria and adjustments to ensure that bonus commitments can be effectively monitored and delivered.
The government also set out how delivery plans and evidence requirements will operate within AR8, aiming to balance flexibility for developers with accountability over promised supply chain and industrial benefits.
While the consultation focused primarily on AR8, the response indicates that many of the regulatory principles and structures will continue into AR9, subject to further review and refinement based on implementation experience.
The government emphasised that lessons learned from AR8 will inform the development of AR9 rules, with the intention of maintaining a stable investment framework while strengthening the effectiveness of the Clean Industry Bonus as the offshore wind sector expands.
Across both AR8 and AR9, the reforms aim to ensure that the CfD scheme supports domestic supply chains, workforce development and regional economic benefits alongside renewable energy deployment. The government also highlighted the need to provide transparency and consistency for industry participants preparing bids for future allocation rounds.
