Why it closed so fast
Bidders queued ahead of the window with feasibility studies, GCC calculations and pre-filled portal entries. The £230m sub-phase budget was committed to fully eligible applications within the first 90 minutes.
Demand vs budget
Demand exceeded budget by a multiple [Salix]. Many fully eligible bids were rejected purely on queue position.
What changed for 3d
Salix moved to a targeted-allocation model based on Grant Carbon Cost, replacing the first-come queue. This change carried into Phase 4 [DESNZ].
Implications for Phase 5
If Phase 5 mirrors 3c on queue mechanics, the application must be pre-filled before open. If it inherits 3d/4 targeted-allocation mechanics, GCC discipline is the binding edge.