EDF signs largest offshore wind farm agreement with RWE

• EDF has signed a fifteen-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with RWE for Sofia, which will be one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world, located off the North East coast of the UK.
• Agreement will bring renewable electricity to the equivalent of over 1.2 million UK homes.

EDF has signed a fifteen-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with RWE to purchase renewable electricity from Sofia, which will be one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world due to start generating power in 2025 and set for full generation in 2026.

In what represents RWE and EDF’s largest renewable energy agreement to date, EDF will offtake all of the 6.5-terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable wind energy that Sofia will produce each year. This equates to almost half of the electricity used in the North East of England annually, or the equivalent of the power needs of over 1.2 million homes. Providing additional large-scale offshore wind capacity to support the UK in achieving its ambitions of net zero emissions by 2050.

With offshore installation expected to begin in 2023 and project completion due in 2026, Sofia will have a capacity of 1.4 GW, stretch across an area of ocean around the same size as the Isle of Man (593 sq km) and consist of 100 turbines each standing at 252 metres tall. Its completion will not only represent a turning point for customers looking to use more renewable energy, but also for the UK’s electricity market - it is estimated that Sofia will save more than 2.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year, the equivalent of flying between London and Sydney more than 1.3 million times.

Philippe Commaret, Managing Director, Customers at EDF, said: “This agreement marks a major milestone in our progress towards achieving net zero, as well as the UK’s ambition to grow offshore wind capacity to 40 gigawatts by 2030. We are focused on working with partners like RWE to furnish the grid with the scale of renewable energy that it so desperately needs. This is exciting news for our customers and will also set a precedent for the UK’s energy industry - delivering large scale, practical solutions on the road to net zero.”

Sven Utermöhlen, CEO Offshore Wind, at RWE Renewables, said: “The UK plays a key role in RWE’s strategy to grow its renewables business and to become carbon neutral by 2040. Sofia will be one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world once constructed, the signing of the PPA with EDF demonstrates our ability to support electricity suppliers in providing CO2-free power to their customers.”

EDF is not only Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, but also offtakes the most renewable electricity of any energy supplier in the country, through both equity-owned generation and capacity under PPA contracts.

RWE is helping to lead the way to a green energy world. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, the company will expand its green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030 and is investing €50 billion gross for this purpose in this decade.

RWE is currently constructing the Sofia and Triton Knoll offshore wind farms, which, when completed will expand RWE’s current UK portfolio of nine offshore wind farms. In addition, RWE recently signed Agreements for Lease with The Crown Estate to develop extension projects at four offshore wind farms.

ENDS

For more information contact:

EDF Energy Media Team

24-hour press line: +44 (0)1452 652233

media@edfenergy.com or edfenergy@goodrelations.co.uk

About EDF in the UK

EDF is helping Britain achieve Net Zero by leading the transition to a cleaner, low emission electric future and tackling climate change. We are Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity – from our eight nuclear power stations and more than thirty wind farms – meeting around one-fifth of the country’s demand. In addition to being one of the largest suppliers to British homes and businesses, we’re a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping our customers become more energy efficient and independent. We continue to invest in the UK’s low carbon energy infrastructure, constructing the first new nuclear power station in a generation at Hinkley Point C, leading the development of plans for Sizewell C in Suffolk, and construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.

EDF is part of EDF Group, the world’s biggest electricity generator. In the UK we employ around 11,000 people.

EDF offtake the most renewable electricity of any energy supplier in Great Britain, through both equity-owned generation and capacity under PPA contracts. (Cornwall Insight PPA Market Share Report Sept 21).

About RWE

RWE is leading the way to a green energy world. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, the company will expand its powerful, green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030. RWE is investing €50 billion gross for this purpose in this decade. The portfolio is based on offshore and onshore wind, solar, hydrogen, batteries, biomass and gas.

RWE Supply & Trading provides tailored energy solutions for large customers. RWE has locations in the attractive markets of Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The company is responsibly phasing out nuclear energy and coal. Government-mandated phaseout roadmaps have been defined for both of these energy sources. RWE employs around 19,000 people worldwide and has a clear target: to get to net zero by 2040. On its way there, the company has set itself ambitious targets for all activities that cause greenhouse gas emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative has confirmed that these emission reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement. Very much in the spirit of the company’s purpose: Our energy for a sustainable life