Net CfD payments by year (£ billion, nominal)
Without the hype
Contracts for Difference Cost Comparison
Energy
What every UK Contract for Difference has cost so far: payments and strike prices for all CfD wind farms, solar parks and biomass plants, from LCCC data, updated October 2026.
Updated October 2026 with LCCC settlement data to 11 October 2026. The original February 2024 version of this post had a separate chart for each of 38 contracts; they’re now grouped by technology below.
A quick and dirty CfD comparison
The following graphs show the CfD price and payments for all of the UK’s generating capacity that has a Contract for Difference with the UK government. The data comes from the Low Carbon Contracts Company’s data portal. The LCCC is the government-owned company that runs the CfD scheme.
A CfD pays a generator the difference between its agreed strike price and the market price for each MWh it produces. When the market price is higher than the strike price, the generator pays the difference back. The net payments are the subsidy, and electricity bill payers fund them through a levy on suppliers.
£13.9bnnet CfD payments since 2016
£31.4bnpaid for CfD power at strike prices
213 TWhgenerated under CfDs
88contracts generating so far
Payments by year
Net payments by calendar year, stacked by technology. In 2022 the gas crisis pushed market prices above most strike prices, and generators paid money back.
Each contract, grouped by technology
For each technology, the first chart shows every contract’s cumulative net payments. The three largest are highlighted to start with: pick another contract from the list, hover over a line to preview it, or click a line to select it, and it’s highlighted in both charts. The second chart shows each contract’s strike price against the market reference price it was paid against. The gap between them is what bill payers make up.
Offshore wind: cumulative net payments per contract (£m)
Offshore wind: strike prices and the market price (£/MWh, nominal)
Show the numbers for every offshore wind contract
| Contract | Round | First paid | TWh | Net payments £m | Strike now £/MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walney Extension Ph 1 | IC | Dec 2017 | 11.10 | 1,174 | 214.50 |
| Walney Extension Ph 2 | IC | Apr 2018 | 10.92 | 1,165 | 173.96 |
| Hornsea Ph 1 | IC | May 2019 | 12.09 | 1,096 | 200.05 |
| Burbo Bank Extension | IC | Apr 2017 | 8.28 | 905 | 166.59 |
| Hornsea Ph 2 | IC | Mar 2020 | 10.36 | 876 | 162.47 |
| Dudgeon Ph 2 | IC | Aug 2017 | 7.69 | 826 | 187.47 |
| Beatrice Ph 2 | IC | Apr 2019 | 8.48 | 801 | 175.47 |
| Hornsea Ph 3 | IC | Mar 2021 | 8.48 | 664 | 175.25 |
| Beatrice Ph 1 | IC | Nov 2018 | 6.80 | 647 | 164.73 |
| EA 1, Ph 2 | AR1 | Mar 2020 | 7.11 | 436 | 170.98 |
| Dudgeon Ph 3 | IC | Oct 2017 | 3.74 | 401 | 199.77 |
| Dudgeon Ph 1 | IC | Apr 2017 | 3.42 | 368 | 173.96 |
| EA 1, Ph 3 | AR1 | May 2020 | 6.10 | 366 | 166.08 |
| EA 1, Ph 1 | AR1 | Oct 2019 | 4.70 | 301 | 139.35 |
| Neart na Gaoithe | AR1 | Apr 2025 | 2.40 | 202 | 167.68 |
| Triton Knoll Ph 3 | AR2 | Mar 2023 | 4.98 | 132 | 102.03 |
| Hornsea Project 2 Ph 2 | AR2 | Mar 2024 | 4.28 | 2 | 77.78 |
| Moray Offshore East Ph 1 | AR2 | Mar 2024 | 1.35 | 0 | 82.34 |
| Moray Offshore East Ph 2 | AR2 | Mar 2024 | 1.33 | 0 | 79.95 |
| Moray Offshore East Ph 3 | AR2 | Mar 2024 | 1.32 | -0 | 77.67 |
| Hornsea Project 2 Ph 1 | AR2 | Mar 2024 | 4.17 | -1 | 77.78 |
| Hornsea Project 2 Ph 3 | AR2 | Mar 2024 | 4.24 | -3 | 77.78 |
| Triton Knoll Ph 2 | AR2 | Jul 2021 | 3.52 | -4 | 102.03 |
| Triton Knoll Ph 1 | AR2 | May 2021 | 3.76 | -5 | 94.81 |
Biomass conversion: cumulative net payments per contract (£m)
Biomass conversion: strike prices and the market price (£/MWh, nominal)
Show the numbers for every biomass conversion contract
| Contract | Round | First paid | TWh | Net payments £m | Strike now £/MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drax 3rd conversion unit unit 1 | IC | Dec 2016 | 37.49 | 2,032 | 116.49 |
| Lynemouth Power Station | IC | Jun 2018 | 17.11 | 997 | 139.08 |
Onshore wind: cumulative net payments per contract (£m)
Onshore wind: strike prices and the market price (£/MWh, nominal)
Show the numbers for every onshore wind contract
| Contract | Round | First paid | TWh | Net payments £m | Strike now £/MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorenell | AR1 | Dec 2018 | 2.74 | 64 | 116.79 |
| Kype Muir | AR1 | Mar 2019 | 1.49 | 35 | 116.79 |
| Clocaenog Forest | AR1 | Oct 2019 | 1.55 | 30 | 114.80 |
| Middle Muir | AR1 | Jan 2019 | 0.79 | 19 | 116.79 |
| Brenig | AR1 | Mar 2019 | 0.79 | 14 | 96.33 |
| Bad A Cheo | AR1 | Mar 2019 | 0.49 | 14 | 98.23 |
| Mynydd Y Gwair | AR1 | Mar 2019 | 0.74 | 10 | 92.26 |
| Sneddon Law Community | AR1 | Apr 2024 | 0.19 | 8 | 111.31 |
| Coire Na Cloiche | AR1 | Jun 2019 | 0.48 | 8 | 114.80 |
| Moor House | AR1 | Apr 2018 | 0.29 | 6 | 94.46 |
| Nanclach | AR1 | Oct 2019 | 0.82 | 4 | 110.35 |
| Solwaybank | AR1 | Nov 2020 | 0.49 | 4 | 100.31 |
| Achlachan | AR1 | Apr 2019 | 0.21 | 4 | 114.80 |
| Common Barn | AR1 | Jun 2019 | 0.12 | 2 | 118.21 |
| Tralorg | AR1 | Nov 2020 | 0.30 | 2 | 104.99 |
| Easter Drumclair wind farm | AR6 | Oct 2026 | 0.00 | 0 | 75.14 |
| Kirk Hill | AR6 | Sep 2026 | 0.00 | -0 | 75.14 |
| Benbrack - AR6 - A2 | AR6 | Jun 2026 | 0.00 | -0 | 75.66 |
| Benbrack - AR6 - A3 | AR6 | Jun 2026 | 0.01 | -0 | 75.66 |
| Benbrack | AR5 | Jun 2026 | 0.02 | -1 | 77.73 |
Solar PV: cumulative net payments per contract (£m)
Solar PV: strike prices and the market price (£/MWh, nominal)
Show the numbers for every solar pv contract
| Contract | Round | First paid | TWh | Net payments £m | Strike now £/MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charity Farm | AR1 | Jun 2016 | 0.14 | 3 | 89.12 |
| Triangle Farm Solar | AR1 | Jul 2017 | 0.12 | 2 | 96.33 |
| CLIFTON | AR4 | Aug 2026 | 0.00 | -0 | 67.89 |
| Doverdale | AR4 | Apr 2026 | 0.01 | -0 | 67.89 |
| South Fambridge Hall Solar | AR4 | Sep 2026 | 0.00 | -0 | 67.89 |
| Rampisham Woods Solar | AR5 | Dec 2025 | 0.01 | -0 | 67.34 |
| Houndbeare Farm Solar Farm | AR4 | Jun 2026 | 0.01 | -0 | 67.89 |
| Preston Farm Solar | AR5 | Jul 2026 | 0.01 | -0 | 69.38 |
| Carn Nicholas Solar Farm | AR4 | Apr 2025 | 0.02 | -0 | 67.89 |
| Kiln Fields Solar | AR6 | Apr 2026 | 0.02 | -0 | 73.91 |
| NEXTPOWER PENTLOW LIMITED | AR4 | Jun 2026 | 0.01 | -0 | 67.89 |
| Crays Hall Solar Farm | AR6 | Jul 2026 | 0.01 | -0 | 73.91 |
| Aller Langport Solar | AR5 | Aug 2025 | 0.02 | -0 | 69.38 |
| Siddington Solar | AR4 | Aug 2025 | 0.02 | -0 | 67.89 |
| Horsey Level Solar | AR6 | Apr 2026 | 0.02 | -0 | 73.91 |
| Bicker Fen Solar | AR4 | May 2025 | 0.03 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Alfreton Solar Farm | AR4 | Jan 2025 | 0.04 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Tycroes solar farm | AR4 | Jun 2026 | 0.02 | -1 | 67.89 |
| St Cleres | AR4 | Jul 2025 | 0.03 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Bracks Farm Solar | AR4 | Apr 2026 | 0.02 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Adstock | AR4 | Jul 2025 | 0.03 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Basildon | AR4 | Jul 2025 | 0.03 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Stokeford Solar Farm | AR4 | May 2025 | 0.05 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Staveley | AR4 | Jul 2025 | 0.04 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Bishampton Solar PV | AR4 | Jan 2025 | 0.06 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Braintree | AR4 | Dec 2025 | 0.04 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Kemb04 Kemble | AR5 | Jul 2026 | 0.03 | -1 | 69.38 |
| NEXTPOWER CRIFTON LIMITED | AR4 | Jun 2026 | 0.03 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Eastfields | AR4 | Mar 2026 | 0.04 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Whitecross Solar Farm | AR4 | Mar 2025 | 0.07 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Litchardon Solar Farm | AR4 | Jan 2025 | 0.07 | -1 | 64.00 |
| Low Farm Solar | AR4 | Jun 2025 | 0.05 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Driffield | AR4 | Jan 2026 | 0.04 | -1 | 67.89 |
| Yelvertoft Solar Farm | AR4 | Oct 2025 | 0.05 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Bunkers Hill | AR4 | Mar 2026 | 0.06 | -1 | 65.89 |
| Layer | AR4 | Jul 2025 | 0.08 | -2 | 65.89 |
| Scurf Dyke Solar | AR4 | Apr 2026 | 0.06 | -2 | 67.89 |
| Inkersall Grange Solar Farm | AR4 | Jan 2026 | 0.07 | -2 | 65.89 |
| Cleve Hill Solar Project | AR4 | Nov 2025 | 0.12 | -4 | 62.99 |
Other: cumulative net payments per contract (£m)
Other: strike prices and the market price (£/MWh, nominal)
Show the numbers for every other contract
| Contract | Round | First paid | TWh | Net payments £m | Strike now £/MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teesside REP | IC | Sep 2023 | 3.56 | 319 | 178.13 |
| Energy Works Hull | AR1 | Dec 2019 | 0.00 | 0 | 134.86 |
| K3 CHP Facility | AR1 | Jul 2020 | 0.79 | -9 | 107.01 |
K3 CHP Facility (energy from waste), Teesside Renewable Energy Project (dedicated biomass) and Energy Works Hull (advanced conversion technology).
Wholesale prices and CfD prices since 2019
Added October 2026. How much have wholesale electricity prices moved, compared with what CfD generators are paid? The chart compares four things, each indexed to 100 in the start year you choose:
- Wholesale price: the day-ahead market reference price LCCC uses for wind and solar contracts, averaged over each year.
- CfD strike, same contracts: the strike price of only those contracts already generating at the start of that year, so the line shows indexation alone.
- Average CfD price paid: the strike price across all CfD generation, weighted by output. Newer, cheaper contracts pull this down.
- CPI, the inflation index strike prices follow.
Start year
Wholesale and CfD prices, indexed to the start year (start year = 100)
From 2019 to 2025, the last full year:
- the wholesale day-ahead price rose 88%, from £43 to £81/MWh, after peaking at £205 in 2022;
- the strike price of the 13 contracts already generating in 2019 rose 26%, close to CPI at 28%, as the contracts’ indexation intends;
- the average CfD price paid rose only 9%, because newer, cheaper contracts now make up much of the output.
So wholesale prices have risen much faster than CfD prices since 2019, and the gap between them has narrowed: the average CfD price paid was 3.2 times the wholesale price in 2019 and 1.9 times in 2025. Payments still grew, from £1.5bn in 2019 to £2.6bn in 2025, because CfD generation grew from 16 to 36 TWh a year.
| Technology | Average strike paid, 2019 | Average strike paid, 2025 | Market price, output-weighted, 2019 | Market price, output-weighted, 2025 | TWh, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore wind | £165 | £154 | £41 | £75 | 25.4 |
| Biomass conversion | £115 | £144 | £56 | £84 | 7.3 |
| Onshore wind | £93 | £116 | £41 | £74 | 1.5 |
| Solar PV | £89 | £70 | £41 | £76 | 0.3 |
| Other | — | £174 | — | £84 | 1.4 |
The output-weighted market price is the market reference price weighted by each technology’s daily output: roughly what its electricity was worth at the market price. LCCC’s data is daily, so this reflects which days each technology generated on, not the time of day, which is why wind and solar come out so close. Biomass is paid against a different, baseload reference price. All prices are £/MWh, in the money of the time.
Notes on the data
- Payments are in nominal pounds: the money actually paid at the time. Strike prices rise each April with CPI inflation.
- “Net payments” are LCCC’s CfD difference payments: positive when the generator is topped up, negative when it pays back.
- Biomass conversion is Drax’s third converted unit and Lynemouth power station, both on Investment Contracts that predate the auctions. Both are due to end in March 2027.
- The figures come straight from LCCC’s published settlement data and are refreshed when this page is rebuilt.