Following completion of the acquisition of the three Norfolk offshore wind projects, RWE is developing nine offshore wind projects in the UK representing a combined potential installed capacity of around 10 GW, with RWE’s pro rata share amounting to around 7.0 GW.

RWE’s development pipeline includes the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone portfolio (comprising Norfolk Vanguard West, Norfolk Vanguard East and Norfolk Boreas, comprising 1.4 GW each) and four of the UK’s seven offshore wind extension projects. Once fully developed and constructed, the extension projects will represent an estimated potential total installed capacity of around 2.6 GW (RWE pro rata share c.1.3 GW): Awel y Môr in North Wales, Rampion 2 off the Sussex Coast, Five Estuaries and North Falls off the coast of East Anglia.

With partner Masdar, RWE is also jointly developing the Dogger Bank South (DBS) Offshore Wind Farm projects in the North Sea, and is leading the project’s development, construction and operation on behalf of the partnership. The DBS projects comprise two separate sites, DBS East and DBS West, and have an estimated combined installed capacity of 3 GW.

Additionally, RWE is constructing the 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm in the North Sea, which upon completion in 2026, will power up to 1.2 million UK homes.

Offshore wind developments are proven, significant economic opportunities for the regions in which they operate, generating supply chain benefits, direct and indirect jobs and contracts. RWE has scale and experience and is in it for the long haul – we work with partners and suppliers to facilitate the kind of innovations, cost reductions and step changes that have made the UK a world leader in the sector.

The tangible benefits of offshore wind are no more so evident that with our Sofia offshore wind farm. Currently in construction in the North Sea and set to power 1.2 million typical UK homes per year once operational in 2026, Sofia will create an estimated c.8,800 jobs (defined as full-time equivalent person-years of employment), with up to 2,000 jobs supported at one time during peak construction. In addition, it will provide an estimated £760 million boost to the UK economy, of which the majority will flow into coastal communities in the North East and the Humber, driving growth in these regions.

Throughout the construction of our projects, we put our suppliers at the very heart, encouraging supply chain and economic growth, and establishing a lasting regional economic legacy in areas local to our sites. RWE projects use a dedicated Supplier Portal to help UK suppliers register for potential contracts. RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind Farm provides a useful source of information for those looking to maximise opportunities in the sector.

Floating offshore wind

RWE is aiming to become a market-leading floating wind player in strategic markets around the world. We welcome the UK Government’s target of delivering 5GW of Floating Wind capacity and are actively investigating a number of floating wind opportunities in the UK to support that – including in the Celtic Sea. Floating Wind presents an important economic opportunity for ports and industry, driving fresh investment, regional and national growth, and new, skilled jobs and careers for the future; RWE is committed to maximising these for UK and regional economies.

How does it work?

Floating wind uses the same turbines as conventional ‘seabed-fixed’ offshore wind but they are deployed on top of floating structures that are secured to the seabed with mooring lines and anchors. Electricity is transmitted to shore via subsea cables. As a less mature technology than seabed-fixed, floating wind is currently more expensive but costs are expected to fall rapidly so that it should be relatively cost competitive by 2030.

Offshore Hydrogen Production

RWE is aiming to be a leader in the innovation of green hydrogen produced using offshore wind.

The UK is ideally suited to capitalise on its offshore wind expertise to produce green hydrogen offshore. In order to reach Net Zero, the UK has significant demand for low carbon energy which offshore hydrogen production can support. After supplying UK demand, the  proximity to Europe means the UK can also be a leader in exporting green hydrogen produced offshore to the European mainland.

Offshore green hydrogen production represents an exciting economic opportunity, supporting jobs and decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as industry, manufacturing, aviation and shipping, while helping the transition away from fossil fuels, whilst delivering energy security to the UK.

RWE has significant expertise and experience in offshore wind and in the development of onshore hydrogen projects throughout the UK and Europe. RWE is working with trade organisations, regulators and technology suppliers to make green hydrogen produced offshore a reality.

How does it work?

Electrolysers located offshore are electrically connected to a standard offshore wind farm producing green electricity. Either an enlarged wind turbine access platform, or a purpose-built central platform, incorporate all the marinised equipment required to produce green hydrogen including transformers, rectifiers, electrolysers, desalination units and gas separation. The green hydrogen produced by electrolysis is transmitted to shore via offshore pipeline(s) similar to those used currently to transport natural gas  and will feed into the UK’s dedicated onshore hydrogen pipeline and storage network currently being developed.

Supporting Local Communities

In 2024, Offshore wind farms operated by RWE contributed over £1.7 million to local community funds, including 201 different grants, and helped secure an additional £1.4 million in matching funding. Our community funds are really flexible and designed to support what is most important to communities, with funding decisions made by panels of local people.

The wide and diverse range of projects funded through our wind farms make a real difference to communities, and include food kitchens for homeless people, conservation projects, forest schools, air source heat pumps and solar panels for community buildings, business start-up training for young people, and a neonatal nurse in a children's hospice care.

Strengthening local relationships

In 2021, RWE announced the development of the ‘Grimsby Hub’, a new state-of-the-art Operations and Maintenance Hub which will be home to RWE’s specialist team for major component exchanges and offshore repairs, with the creation of around 60 new jobs. The Grimsby Hub will enable the company to strengthen its relationship with the region’s businesses and local communities, by committing to a longer-term presence in the area.

The location of the Grimsby Hub was chosen because of its proximity to existing and future projects and its deep-water quayside, which is suited to the use of Service Operations Vessels (SOVs). 

Engaging with young people

Through its offshore wind farms, the company has engaged with thousands of young people, encouraging STEM learning and raising awareness of the sector. In 2021, the Rampion Visitor Centre opened on the Brighton seafront as a place for young people to find out more about offshore wind and the myriad careers.

Since 2012, more than 100 offshore wind technicians have been trained, or are in training, through the RWE apprenticeship scheme. All our current and future offshore wind technicians will play a valuable role in this growing sector.