In a concerning setback for the UK’s renewable energy ambitions, the latest government auction for offshore wind projects concluded without any new developments secured by developers. The results of the auction, which took place recently, unveiled a notable absence of bids for new offshore wind farms. Instead, the auction saw agreements reached for solar, tidal, and onshore wind energy projects.

Critics have argued that the pricing structure for electricity generated by offshore wind projects was set too low, making them financially unviable for developers. The government, in response, cited a “global rise” in inflation, affecting supply chains, as a contributing factor that has “presented challenges for projects.”

While offshore and floating offshore wind projects were notably absent from the list of approved agreements, the government suggested that the outcome was consistent with results seen in other countries such as Germany and Spain.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero did highlight the approval of a “significant number” of projects in other renewable sectors, including solar power, onshore wind, tidal energy, and, notably, geothermal projects, which harness ground heat to generate power. However, the absence of new offshore wind projects poses a significant challenge to the UK’s commitment to deliver 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2030, compared to the current capacity of 14 GW. Renewable energy advocates argue that while alternative renewables like solar are valuable, they cannot fully replace the power-generation capacity of offshore wind.

In related news, a study by the recycling campaign group Material Focus revealed a troubling trend in disposable vape waste in the UK. The research found that five million disposable vapes are discarded each week, marking a fourfold increase over the past year. Alarmingly, only 17% of vapers recycle their devices correctly in designated bins.

Disposable vapes, which are designed for a limited number of nicotine puffs before disposal, contain valuable materials like copper wires and lithium batteries. Material Focus estimated that the discarded vapes in a year contain enough lithium to supply batteries for 5,000 electric cars. The improper disposal of these devices can lead to fires in waste facilities, posing environmental and safety concerns.