London, January 19, 2026, 09:22 GMT — Regular session.
- SSE shares crept up 0.1% in early London trading, hitting a fresh one-year peak.
- The most recent UK offshore wind subsidy auction featured increased strike prices alongside extended contract durations.
- Investors are eyeing SSE’s trading update due on Feb. 4 and the interim dividend payout set for Jan. 30.
SSE Plc shares ticked up 0.1% to 2,345 pence by 0922 GMT, having climbed to 2,352 pence earlier on Monday, marking a new one-year peak. The stock stood 2 pence above Friday’s close, with early trading volume hitting 130,320 shares. (London South East)
Investors remain focused on the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which guarantees developers a fixed electricity price and offers top-ups if wholesale rates dip. Consultancy Westwood Energy reported that the latest offshore wind auction saw fixed-bottom projects clear at a weighted average strike price of £90.91 per megawatt-hour—an 11% rise from last year—and introduced 20-year contracts for the first time. “Industry reaction … has generally been positive,” noted author Alex Middleton. (Westwood)
SSE jumped into the debate with a January 14 announcement: it locked in a 20-year CfD for 1.4 gigawatts (GW) at Berwick Bank Phase B. The strike price stands at £89.49/MWh, based on 2024 prices and adjusted for inflation. CEO Martin Pibworth called the deal a “milestone,” saying it sets the stage for a final investment decision targeted for 2027. The company also noted the next UK CfD round is due later this year. (Sse)
Pibworth made a similar point over the weekend, saying rising demand and ageing gas and nuclear plants mean the country “need[s] to build something.” He added that “renewables are the cheaper option than gas generation.” He also highlighted grid bottlenecks forcing wind farms to cut output, noting SSE earned £10 million last year simply to keep a Shetland wind farm offline. (The Times)
The calendar is packed. SSE will pay its interim dividend on Jan. 30 and is set to release a third-quarter trading update on Feb. 4, per its investor schedule. (Sse)
Higher strike prices don’t guarantee offshore wind projects an easy path. These ventures can tie up capital for years, and delays or fresh supply-chain inflation spikes could still slash returns, even with subsidies in place.
Utilities such as SSE often behave like bonds in the market. When interest rate expectations move, the sector can quickly adjust, bringing regulated returns back into the spotlight.
