The United Kingdom has awarded contracts for 131 new green infrastructure projects, including plans for Europe's two biggest offshore windfarms.

The new Labour government hailed the outcome as a way to power millions of homes across the island nation with cleaner energy.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement that the UK had "achieved a record-setting round for enough renewable power for 11 million homes, essential to give energy security to families across the country".

He added that it was "another significant step forward in our mission for clean power by 2030 - bringing Britain energy independence and lower bills for good".

The auction awarded contracts for nine new offshore wind projects, including for what will be Europe's largest and second-largest windfarms, Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4, off the Yorkshire coast in northern England.

There were also contracts for onshore wind, solar and tidal energy projects.