Thrive’s largest wind project secures Contract for Difference (CFD)

News

12 Feb 2026

The project will help power over 45,000 average UK homes every year.

Article written by anna.cooper

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The results of the government’s Allocation Round 7 (AR7) for onshore wind are out, and we’re pleased to announce that our biggest project yet – a 57MW wind farm in construction in Scotland, has been awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD).

A CfD is a long term contract between a renewable electricity generator, such as a wind or solar farm, and the government. The contract guarantees the generator with a stable price for the electricity they produce, known as a “strike price”, over 20 years, regardless of market fluctuations. When market prices are higher than the strike price, the generator pays the surplus back, and vice versa when market prices fall below the strike price. The revenue stability encourages investment into UK renewables, increasing energy security, and allows projects to decrease the cost of funding ultimately lowering the cost of energy. Onshore wind is much more cost-effective for billpayers at £72.24 per MWh, compared to gas at £147 per MWh.

Renewable UK estimates that the new onshore wind farms that won contracts in AR7 will generate enough clean electricity to power over 1.2 million homes. Plus generate more than £6.5 million in community benefit funds for people living near them.

“The UK government took another giant leap towards energy security, lower bills and economic growth in the latest round of Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocations. We’re thrilled to see our largest project to date – a 57MW wind farm in Scotland – awarded a CfD as part of the auction. We expect the project to be powering homes and businesses by the end of the year. As well as over £8 million of  community benefit generated over the lifetime of the project, the local community will also be offered the chance to purchase a stake and share ownership with us. [1]”

Matthew Clayton, CEO, Thrive Renewables

The CfD will help unlock the long-term potential of Whitelaw Brae wind farm, our biggest project yet, which is due to complete construction this year. Most of the 14 concrete bases for the turbines are now in place, with the access tracks and cabling for the grid connection route completed. Building work also started on the substation, with turbine deliveries expected to start in spring. Once operational, Whitelaw Braw wind farm will help sustainably power over 45,000 average UK homes a year. [2]

Drumduff wind farm which we co-own and operate with GreenPower also secured a CfD to support a new 6 turbine site extension.

[1] Based on an export capacity of 57MW and a payment of £5,000/MW, the annual payment will be £285,000, which over 30 years would total £8.55m. This is before indexation, which will also be applied.

[2] Homes equivalent is calculated using the most recent statistics from DESNZ showing that annual GB average domestic household consumption is 3,323kWh (as of December 2025, updated annually). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ media/6945728a033693d5d50eb83d/subnational-electricity-andgasconsumption-summary-report-2024.pdf