The Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) is a new incentive scheme aimed at encouraging offshore wind developers to invest in industrial communities and low-carbon supply chains.
In December 2024, the UK government published its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, setting out a roadmap for decarbonising the energy grid by 2030.
Offshore wind is the cornerstone of Britain’s clean energy strategy, and the plan is to expand current capacity from 15GW to between 43GW to 50GW by the end of the decade.
As part of this Action Plan, the CIB will provide an initial £27m in funding for every gigawatt of capacity to successful offshore wind project bidders. That means if developers commit to 7-8GW of offshore wind, up to £200m of funding could be made available.
There are certain caveats, however. Developers must prioritise investment in industrial regions and coastal areas that need it most: for instance, giving an economic boost and supporting jobs in traditional oil and gas communities.
The scheme will also reward...