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Contracts for Difference meaning

/ˈkɒntrakt/ /for/ /ˈdɪf(ə)r(ə)ns/
Published by a LexisNexis Energy expert
What does Contracts for Difference mean?
In practice, a contract for difference in the UK electricity market is a long‑term private law contract under which a low‑carbon generator receives (or pays) the difference between an agreed strike price and a market reference price, stabilising revenues over the contract term. In Great Britain (England and Wales and Scotland) “cfd” usually means the statutory Contracts for Difference scheme established under the Energy Act 2013. The counterparty is the government‑owned Low Carbon Contracts company (LCCC). CfDs are awarded through competitive allocation rounds and funded by the electricity supplier obligation. Key legal features include a two‑way payment mechanism, standard terms, delivery and milestone obligations, metering and settlement rules, change‑in‑law protection, termination rights and lender step‑in. Terms commonly run for c.15 years and are used for technologies such as offshore wind, onshore wind, solar PV and tidal stream. The GB scheme does not extend to Northern Ireland, which participates in the Single Electricity Market. In Ireland, the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme employs a similar two‑way difference mechanism (often described as a CfD) under separate national legislation and documentation. The concept is broadly consistent across these jurisdictions, but the counterparties, auction processes and settlement arrangements differ.
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View the related Practice Notes about Contracts for Difference

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