Network Rail and RWE agree offshore wind power deal

The Network Rail renewable energy deal with RWE covers about 65% of its non-traction electricity. That power will come from one of RWE’s offshore wind farms. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

It will be used across offices, depots and managed stations as Network Rail moves those sites toward renewable sources.

Network Rail renewable energy deal and supply scope

The agreement is Network Rail’s second Corporate Power Purchase Agreement within a year. It will provide 300 GWh of renewable electricity annually over five years. All power will come from RWE’s Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm in the Irish Sea. The site is around 15 miles off the coast of North Wales. Supply is due to begin on 1 April 2027. Network Rail said the agreement is expected to reduce carbon emissions by about 168,000 tonnes of CO₂e. That is roughly the equivalent of planting 6.5 million trees.

Paul Marshall, Network Rail’s Chief Financial Officer said:

This contract marks a significant step forward in our transition to renewable energy. Rail is already one of the most sustainable ways to travel, but we recognise there is much more we can do.

This agreement with RWE represents a major step towards our ambition to power all our non-traction electricity – across offices, stations and depots – from renewable sources by 2030. It also highlights the important role organisations can play in driving investment in clean energy.

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As we move towards Great British Railways, this deal underlines our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and building a more integrated, sustainable rail network, not just for the millions who rely on it today, but for future generations.

Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm and the 2030 target

The agreement forms part of Network Rail’s Greener Strategy. It includes plans for all non-traction electricity used across its offices, depots and 20 managed stations to come from sustainable sources by 2030. It also includes wider ambitions for a sustainable railway. It follows a CoPPA signed with EDF Renewables in 2025 that secured 64 GWh of clean electricity a year. The power will come from a solar farm now under construction.

Taken together, the two agreements are expected to provide about 80% of the organisation’s non-traction electricity from renewable sources.

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