Vattenfall has pledged to remain a significant player in the offshore wind sector after signing an agreement with RWE to divest the 4200MW Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.
The agreed purchase price corresponds to an enterprise value of £963m and ensures the continued development of the projects and fossil-free electricity for millions of British homes, said Vattenfall.
Vattenfall added it believes the agreement with RWE is the best way forward both for the company and for the Norfolk projects. With the divestment, Vattenfall said it increases its ability to invest in fossil-free projects that better fit its overall portfolio and risk appetite, while the future of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is secured. This divestment means the impairment and provisions Vattenfall reported earlier this year will be reversed.
The 4.2GW Norfolk Zone consists of three fully consented wind farms – Norfolk Boreas, Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East – and is located off the east coast of England.
The company will continue to be a significant offshore developer, however, for example having recently partnered with BASF to develop the 1.5GW Nordlicht cluster off the coast of Germany.
Likewise, Vattenfall says it remains committed to the UK, with 1.1GW installed offshore and onshore wind capacity – the 798MW Muir Mhor floating offshore wind farm in development with its JV partner Fred Olsen Seawind, plus a pipeline of 500MW of onshore wind projects; heat networks under construction in three major UK cities; and one of the UK’s leading independent distribution network operators.
“The Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is incredibly important for the energy transition and reaching net zero,” said Vattenfall AB chief executive Anna Borg.
“Today’s agreement with RWE is great news for the UK’s energy security, ensuring the Zone’s continued journey towards providing clean electricity for over 4 million homes as well as jobs and investment into the UK,” Borg added.
“Both the UK and the offshore market remain attractive over the long term, and we will focus our offshore investments in projects which are appropriate to our current risk appetite while continuing to operate and grow our existing fleet of assets.
“The sale of Boreas, Vanguard East and Vanguard West is pending regulatory approvals, and the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. Until then, Vattenfall will continue to develop the Vanguard East and Vanguard West projects.
“A transitional service agreement for the period after the closing will ensure continuation of the build out.”