Applying for a supply chain plan in CfD allocation round 8

The window for submitting applications will be open for 7 days from Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 00:01 until Tuesday 7 April 2026 at 23:59.

DESNZ has also stated that in the calendar week before the application window opens, prospective applicants should email [email protected] to indicate their intention to submit a Supply Chain Plan and that it will provide a secure online platform for electronic submission.

After AR8, successful applicants will need a further statement from the Secretary of State confirming they have passed the Supply Chain Plan Implementation Assessment, evidencing delivery of, or progress against, the SCP commitments, which relates to ongoing monitoring of commitments made in the scored sections of the SCP.

After a CfD has been awarded, the developer will be subject to ongoing monitoring and assessment by DESNZ.

Delivery of plan’s commitments is part of the CfD conditions precedent and a pre-requisite to participating in future allocation rounds.

What is a Supply Chain Plan?

A Supply Chain Plan is a statement by the applicant describing how they intend to deliver on government’s objectives of encouraging competitive, productive and efficient supply chains for low carbon electricity generation projects and accelerating investments in clean energy.

What information is required in the application?

Applicants must complete the relevant Supply Chain Questionnaire, which is divided into 4 sections covering:

• Green Growth
• Infrastructure
• Innovation
• Skills.

How will the Plans be assessed?

Supply Chain Plans will be assessed by DESNZ and scored against the published criteria. The score will be determined as a percentage of the marks available.

Those that are successful will receive a written Statement of Approval and will be able to participate in AR8.

Those that do not achieve a high enough score will not pass, but unsuccessful applicants will be able to revise and resubmit their plans until the start of the CfD auction.

Supply Chain Plan implementation

Developers who are awarded a CfD will provide regular updates on the implementation of their plans to DESNZ and will participate in implementation meetings every 3 months.

They will need to receive a Supply Chain Implementation Statement to be able to satisfy the Supply Chain Plan Operational Condition Precedent (OCP) in their contract and start receiving CfD payments.

If a commitment cannot be met, the developer may propose an alternative and commensurate commitment and, with the approval by DESNZ, amend their Supply Chain Plan. Even if a commitment could not be met, the efforts to reach a successful outcome will be recognised.

But if the developer fails to obtain a Supply Chain Implementation Statement before the CfD Longstop Date, the OCP will not be met and the CfD may be terminated.

What happens after project completion?

After a Supply Chain Implementation Statement is issued, monitoring will continue and implementation meetings with DESNZ will resume at 6-monthly intervals until project completion.

Following completion, if all outstanding commitments in the Supply Chain Plan have been met, DESNZ will approve a Supply Chain Plan Post-Build Implementation Report. The developer will need this if it wishes to participate in future CfD allocation rounds.

Authored by Inga Aryanova and Scott Tindall.