{"id":405347,"date":"2025-09-27T18:54:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T16:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=405347"},"modified":"2025-09-27T18:54:50","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T16:54:50","slug":"the-cost-of-davey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=405347","title":{"rendered":"The Cost Of\u00a0Davey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cost Of Davey | NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Paul Homewood<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Graphic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
London: 26 September 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Offshore windfarm receives \u00a32bn subsidies in just six years<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

A major UK offshore windfarm has received a staggering \u00a32 billion of subsidy payments in just six years. Hornsea 1, sited in the North Sea, was one of the windfarms awarded contracts in 2014 by then Energy Secretary Ed Davey.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, Davey decided that this first tranche of Contracts for Difference subsidy agreements should be awarded on a non-competitive basis. As a result, Hornsea 1 is currently receiving a guaranteed \u00a3200 per megawatt hour for its power, nearly three times current market prices.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it activated its contract in 2019, Hornsea 1 has received a staggering \u00a32 billion in top-up payments. This astonishing generosity means that such payments are likely to be sufficient to cover the full capital cost of the windfarm before the contract comes to an end in 2034 \u2013 the developers effectively get the windfarm for free.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davey agreed to no fewer than eight such non-competitive subsidy awards, mostly to offshore windfarms. Together, these have so far added \u00a310 billion to the cost of the grid. This equates to around \u00a3370 per household.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, new analysis of official data from Net Zero Watch indicates that ministers have locked British households into subsidy payments of over \u00a380 billion over the next 15 years, representing nearly \u00a33000 per household. This figure that is expected to rise significantly after the Secretary of State, Ed Miliband, increased the level of subsidies on offer in the 2025 auction round.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Net Zero Watch director Andrew Montford said:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAt a time when high energy bills are the number one concern for families, Ed Miliband is adding more and more costs onto the system \u2013 subsidies, grid constraints, carbon capture \u2013 the list goes on. Every extra burden feeds directly through to higher bills, leaving households poorer and businesses less competitive. What began with Ed Davey\u2019s reckless Investment Contracts is being compounded by Miliband\u2019s Clean Power 2030 plan. Instead of easing the cost-of-living crisis, politicians are making it worse. This is indistinguishable from insanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Given that Ed Davey has recently been in the news following his Lib Dems\u2019 conference speech, it a good opportunity to remind the world of his legacy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the clown Davey has already cost the country more than \u00a310 billion in subsidies he awarded in that first tranche of CfDs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Table<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A major UK offshore windfarm has received a staggering \u00a32 billion of subsidy payments in just six years. Hornsea 1, sited in the North Sea, was one of the windfarms awarded contracts in 2014 by then Energy Secretary Ed Davey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":405353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"Explore how \u00a32 billion in subsidies for Hornsea 1 offshore windfarm impacts UK households, energy costs, and Ed Davey\u2019s controversial legacy.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"UK Offshore Windfarm Secures \u00a32 Billion in Subsidies","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818270,691831484,691818154,691818301,691818299],"class_list":{"0":"post-405347","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-contracts-for-difference-cfd","9":"tag-energy-secretary-ed-miliband","10":"tag-net-zero","11":"tag-offshore-wind","12":"tag-subsidies","14":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AQMOwAK-ZyBxmofc0i-gmdXPiD43qTjtP8EvlJ2dQ1PWGRn-C-1X91qDo8ZZpXIoqduP-u57ZSIjkJFYhjnCUONmqQFBpgtLhPEUDXtRLqxY8pkmVISrwASAZ6iPysuCFg86vDNuQsWD-vTcmLBez6uQtHet-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1HrR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":430120,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430120","url_meta":{"origin":405347,"position":0},"title":"Reduce Energy Bills? Don\u2019t Make Me Laugh, Ed Davey\u2013You\u2019re The Reason Why They Are So\u00a0High!","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ed Davey has promised that the Lib Dems will cut energy bills by \u00a3870 a year, bringing the \u201cbenefits of cheap renewable power\u201d. He naturally blamed the Tories and labour for high electricity prices.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate change","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Reduce-Energy-Bills.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Reduce-Energy-Bills.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Reduce-Energy-Bills.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Reduce-Energy-Bills.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":251750,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=251750","url_meta":{"origin":405347,"position":1},"title":"The great renewables rip-off continues","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/04\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Renewable energy operators have just been awarded huge prices rises, putting further pressure on hard-pressed consumers.","rel":"","context":"In \"Offshore wind farm\"","block_context":{"text":"Offshore wind farm","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=offshore-wind-farm"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_Hornsea-One-offshore-wind-farm-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_Hornsea-One-offshore-wind-farm-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_Hornsea-One-offshore-wind-farm-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_Hornsea-One-offshore-wind-farm-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/0_Hornsea-One-offshore-wind-farm-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":215975,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=215975","url_meta":{"origin":405347,"position":2},"title":"Ed Davey: I\u2019m proud to have stopped fracking, despite energy crisis","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"28\/08\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Sir Ed Davey has said he remains proud that he was the person who \u201cbasically stopped\u201d fracking in the UK","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1269.png?fit=983%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1269.png?fit=983%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1269.png?fit=983%2C671&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1269.png?fit=983%2C671&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":367863,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=367863","url_meta":{"origin":405347,"position":3},"title":"Net Zero Watch ridicules \u2018fantasy\u2019 Carbon\u00a0Budget","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"27\/02\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Net Zero Watch has ridiculed the Seventh Carbon Budget, which was published today, saying that \u2018it doesn\u2019t rise much above the level of fantasy\u2019. The campaigning organisation says that the spending estimates are unaffordable, and are lowballed, because they are based on figures that bear no resemblance to anything seen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate Change Committee (CCC)\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate Change Committee (CCC)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change-committee-ccc"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0net-zero-graphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0net-zero-graphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0net-zero-graphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0net-zero-graphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0net-zero-graphic.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":351340,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=351340","url_meta":{"origin":405347,"position":4},"title":"Another windfarm surpasses \u00a31 billion in subsidy\u00a0payments","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"16\/11\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Beatrice Offshore Windfarm has become the fourth windfarm to have received more than \u00a31 billion in subsidy payments. The landmark was reached in just its seventh year of operation, suggesting that it could reach \u00a32 billion over the course of its subsidy agreement.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0YAYMFVFJU4W0MJ00I1L8.jpg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0YAYMFVFJU4W0MJ00I1L8.jpg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0YAYMFVFJU4W0MJ00I1L8.jpg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0YAYMFVFJU4W0MJ00I1L8.jpg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0YAYMFVFJU4W0MJ00I1L8.jpg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":198310,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=198310","url_meta":{"origin":405347,"position":5},"title":"Money For Nothing","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/05\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Paul Homewood From Net Zero Watch: GB News are\u00a0currently reporting\u00a0that new capacity additions to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) subsidy scheme have dried up completely, as windfarms put back their CfD start dates, and sell into the open market instead. One of the windfarms that has decided to shun\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0image00001.jpeg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0image00001.jpeg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0image00001.jpeg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0image00001.jpeg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0image00001.jpeg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=405347"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":405355,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405347\/revisions\/405355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/405353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=405347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=405347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=405347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}