Rampion wind farm developers hit back at claims of funding issues

A wind farm developer has hit back at claims that its project has “failed” to secure vital government funding.

Rampion 2, a proposed offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast, has come under fire from campaign group Protect Coastal Sussex (PCS), who say the project has missed out on a contract in the UK Government’s latest Offshore Wind Allocation.

PCS have argued that the development is now “commercially uncompetitive” without the financial backing of a 20-year Contract for Difference (CfD) and said the scheme should be withdrawn.

But the wind farm’s developer, RWE, has rejected these claims and says a future bid is still possible.

A spokesman for RWE said: “Rampion 2 is targeting a future CfD round, so it is wholly incorrect to claim the project has failed to win or been denied a CfD.

“Rampion 2 is a consented offshore wind project, designed to be eligible to bid into a future UK Government CfD auction.

“Auctions are strictly confidential and commercially sensitive and as such we would not comment on whether project partners will or will not bid into any specific auction.

“Timelines for all future CfD Allocation Rounds are the responsibility of the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and will be taken into consideration before determining any future bidding strategy.”

They added that the project was progressing on plan, and communities and stakeholders would continue to be updated with its progress.

CfDs help incentivise investment in renewable energy by providing developers of projects with high upfront costs protection from volatile wholesale prices.

PCS maintains that the contracts are necessary to attract international investment and access green loans, and that Rampion 2 has “no credible investment case or realistic path” to fund its costs and operating expenses.

A spokesman for RWE said the project continues to advance.

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Rampion 2 remains a controversial development.

The wind farm was given the go-ahead in April last year, paving the way for a further 90 wind turbines off the Sussex coast.

However, PCS subsequently appealed for funding to launch a judicial review of the decision, warning that the expansion would lead to ecological harm.

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