On April 15, 2026, German energy giant RWE signed a five-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CoPPA) with Network Rail, the UK’s state-owned rail infrastructure operator. Under the agreement, RWE will supply 300 GWh of offshore wind power annually to Network Rail, covering around 65% of its non-traction electricity demand – including offices, maintenance depots and operating stations. Power supply will officially commence on April 1, 2027.

This agreement holds significant importance as it marks the first CoPPA deal reached by the UK public sector within the framework of the new Crown Commercial Service. It not only sets a benchmark for clean energy procurement by the UK public sector but also opens up a more mature market-based revenue channel for existing renewable energy assets.

The electricity will be fully sourced from RWE’s Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, located in the Irish Sea (near Liverpool Bay) off the coast of North Wales, approximately 13–15 km from shore, spanning a sea area of 80 km². Construction began in early 2012 and was completed in June 2015, when it ranked as the world’s second-largest offshore wind farm. The facility comprises 160 Siemens (now Siemens Gamesa) SWT-3.6-107/120 turbines, with a total installed capacity of 576 MW, providing stable and substantial clean power output.

This offshore wind CoPPA with RWE complements Network Rail’s inaugural solar CoPPA signed with EDF Renewables in 2025, raising the share of renewables in its non-traction power use to around 80%. Network Rail has set a clear target to power 100% of its non-traction electricity demand from renewables by 2030.