Network Rail has taken a major step towards decarbonising the railway after signing a landmark renewable electricity agreement with leading energy company RWE, securing around 65% of its non‑traction power from offshore wind.
The new Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CoPPA) will see Network Rail receive 300 GWh of renewable electricity each year for five years, supplied from RWE’s Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm in the Irish Sea, around 15 miles off the North Wales coast.
The deal is Network Rail’s second CoPPA within a year and is expected to cut the organisation’s carbon footprint by approximately 168,000 tonnes of CO₂e over the contract period – equivalent to planting 6.5 million trees.
Electricity generated by the offshore wind farm will be used to power Network Rail’s offices, depots and all 20 of its managed stations, supporting the organisation’s ambition to source 100% of non‑traction electricity from sustainable sources by 2030.
Paul Marshall, Network Rail’s chief financial officer said:
“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.
“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.”
RWE described the agreement as a significant milestone for public sector energy procurement under the new Government Commercial Agency framework.
Olaf Lubenow, Head of Commodity Solutions UK, North & South Europe at RWE Supply & Trading, said:
“We are delighted to have concluded the first public sector PPA under the new Government Commercial Agency framework. 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.
“By providing Network Rail with offshore wind power from Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, we are helping to significantly reduce emissions while enhancing the long-term stability and reliability of their electricity procurement.”
The agreement forms a central pillar of Network Rail’s Greener Strategy, which sets out the organisation’s roadmap to delivering a more sustainable railway. It follows a CoPPA signed with EDF Renewables in 2025, which secured 64 GWh of solar power annually from a new solar farm currently under construction.
Combined, the two agreements will provide around 80% of Network Rail’s non‑traction electricity from renewable sources, keeping the organisation firmly on track to meet its 2030 sustainability target.
RWE’s Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, commissioned in 2015, consists of 160 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 576 megawatts. Power from the wind farm will begin supplying Network Rail’s estate from 1 April 2027.
Image credit: Network Rail
