Contracting for Wind Generation

The UK Government proposes offering long-term Feed-in-Tariffs (FiTs) to low-carbon generation to reduce risk and encourage new entrants. Their preference is for a Contract-for-Difference (CfD) for all generation regardless of type. I argue that a standard CfD is unsuitable for on-shore wind, where a fixed FiT appears less risky. The estimated extra trading and balancing costs of a CfD for on-shore wind might be £56 million/yr by 2020 and £170 million/yr for all wind. The extra costs of investment risk could be comparable and additional.