RWE, the UK’s leading power producer, has signed its first UK Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to provide clean electricity for over 10 years to the UK subsidiary of the global taste and nutrition giant Kerry Group. The agreement is structured as two separate financial pay-as-produced PPAs and will commit capacity from RWE’s UK solar projects Cotmoor, located in Nottinghamshire, and Copse Lodge in Northamptonshire.
Each of the projects has a potential installed capacity of 49.9 megawatts (MWac) with the first, Cotmoor, having already achieved Financial Investment Decision (FID) and beginning full construction works this year. Copse Lodge Solar Farm is expected to follow in 2025.
Olaf Lubenow, Head of Commodity Solutions UK, North & South Europe of RWE Supply & Trading: “Solar power is one of the quickest and easiest renewable technologies to deploy, and can quickly make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy system. Through the build-out and operation of our UK portfolio of over 4.4 gigawatts of solar projects, our clean electricity can help even more businesses like Kerry Group to decarbonize for the future by sourcing clean green electricity for years to come. We’re delighted to be able to support the transition of businesses away from fossil fuel-sourced electricity and to be making a meaningful contribution to the UK’s net zero ambitions.”
Juan Aguriano, Global Head of Sustainability for Kerry: “Kerry is committed to the fight against climate change. We intend to reduce our combined Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. Power purchase agreements represent a key pillar of Kerry’s renewable energy strategy to deliver on these commitments. The agreements with RWE are Kerry’s first PPAs in the UK and represent approximately 50% of Kerry’s electricity volume used in the country. We are proud to support the UK’s transition to low-carbon electricity and look forward to supporting more projects like these in the future in Europe and around the world.”
RWE emerging as a leader in UK solar
RWE is already a global leader in the deployment of renewable energy and, since 2023, has expanded its solar and co-located battery storage development portfolio into one of the largest in the UK. It has targeted the commissioning of on average 450 megawatts of new solar and storage projects in the UK every year as part of its commitment to investing 8 billion euros net in the UK from 2024 – 2030 to support its Growing Green strategy.
The company was the most successful solar developer in the last Contracts for Difference Auction Round 5, securing agreements for six UK solar projects. Together, these projects account for enough renewable electricity generation capacity to power thousands of UK homes, support local supply chains and jobs, and make an important contribution to the UK’s ambitions for net zero and security of supply.