RWE has signed a corporate power purchase agreement to supply Network Rail with offshore wind power for its depots, offices and stations.
RWE said it will deliver 300GWh of renewable electricity annually over five years from the 576MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm off North Wales.
The company added that the deal will supply around 65% of Network Rail’s non-traction electricity and help cut emissions by about 168,000 tonnes of CO2e.
The agreement supports Network Rail’s target to source all non-traction electricity from renewables by 2030.
It said the wind farm, commissioned in 2015, consists of 160 turbines located 15 miles off the coast of North Wales in the Irish Sea.
“We are delighted to have concluded the first public sector PPA under the new Government Commercial Agency framework,” said Olaf Lubenow, head of commodity solutions UK, North & South Europe at RWE Supply & Trading.
“Our contract with Network Rail demonstrates our strong commitment to supporting the UK public sector on its path towards a sustainable and resilient energy supply.”
“This contract marks a significant step forward in our transition to renewable energy,” said Paul Marshall, chief financial officer of Network Rail.
“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.”