Two wind farms championed by Keir Starmer last year and backed by BP are at risk of being scrapped after finding themselves snubbed for Government contracts in Ed Miliband’s latest round of renewables subsidies. The Telegraph has the story.

The developer behind the proposed Mona and Morgan wind farms in the Irish Sea said the projects were no longer viable after missing out on taxpayer support during the latest auction.

That is despite Sir Keir Starmer having championed the sites last year, claiming they were proof of the UK’s commitment to green energy.

Energy company EnBW, which originally backed the schemes alongside BP, said: “The primary reason for EnBW’s withdrawal is that the two projects did not receive Government support.

“In combination with other factors beyond its control, this implies that the projects are no longer economically viable.

“These include increasingly deteriorating conditions such as cost increases across the supply chain, higher interest rates and ongoing project implementation risks.”

The comment risks dashing hopes for £100 million of planned investment in the projects and putting hundreds of jobs in Scotland and Belfast at risk.

BP’s failure to prop up the scheme reflects its continued retreat from green energy, instead choosing to focus on traditional sectors such as oil and gas.

After initially partnering with EnBW, BP has now moved its share into JERA Nex bp, a 50-50 partnership with Japan’s JERA.

This joint venture insisted there “are still good pathways” to deliver the projects despite EnBW saying otherwise.

Mr Miliband rejected the developers’ bid for subsidies during the latest auction of renewable energy contracts known as Allocation Round 7.

The Mona and Morgan projects would lie roughly halfway between Blackpool and the Isle of Man, with a total of nearly 200 giant 15-megawatt turbines, each standing about 1,200ft tall.

Planning for the schemes was well advanced.

Worth reading in full.