RWE takes a major step towards its inaugural UK solar farms, initiating construction on seven projects totaling 330MW. Acquired from JBM Solar, this marks a significant step in RWE’s commitment to UK clean energy investment.RWE’s acquisition of approximately 3.8GW of solar capacity and 2.3GW of battery development projects establishes it as a leading solar developer in the UK, underlining the company’s dedication to investing in clean energies in the region.
RWE has granted construction contracts to two UK-based firms, Ethical Power and Equans UK & Ireland. These contractors will offer a full range of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for seven solar farm projects spanning from north Devon to Lincolnshire in England.
Details of the seven projects are as follows:
Langford – 35MW solar + 35MW BESS.
Claydon – 45MW solar +10MW BESS
Cotmoor – 50MW
Moreton Lane – 50MW
Doverdale – 50MW
Stoneshollow – 50MW
Ashorne – 50MW
Mobilization has started at the sites, driving substantial investment in new green infrastructure, simultaneously promoting biodiversity net gains and delivering benefits to local communities. These projects, all having secured Contracts for Difference, are being constructed with the aim of future co-location of battery storage (BESS) to optimize Grid utilization.
The initial site among the seven is expected to achieve full operation by the end of 2024, with the others following suit shortly thereafter. Upon full operation, these sites will meet the yearly electricity requirements of more than 140,000 typical UK households, ultimately cutting UK carbon emissions by approximately 8 million tonnes over their lifespan. In collaboration with local parishes, RWE’s initiatives will also yield £645,000 in community benefits to the adjacent areas, directly aiding local projects and generating employment opportunities for local businesses.
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said, “The deployment of these seven new projects represents a significant milestone for RWE as we grow and diversify our clean energy portfolio through solar and battery power, in one of our most strategically important markets. Quick to deploy and using the most modern solar technologies, we aim to maximise the generation potential of these sites for the UK; with a national target to increase solar capacity five-fold by 2035 and similar for battery storage, our projects will play a key role in helping ensure the UK decarbonises its power grid and achieves its challenging net zero targets.”
RWE targets an average commissioning of 450MW of additional UK solar capacity annually until 2030, aligning with the UK’s goal of achieving 70GW of solar capacity by 2035. Internationally, RWE plans to increase its installed solar capacity from 3.9GW to 16GW by 2030.
Tom Kneen, CEO and Founder of Ethical Power added, “We are proud to have been selected by RWE for this market-leading development where we’ll be able to showcase the full scope of our capabilities. Together with RWE, we will continue to drive the decarbonisation of the UK’s energy systems realising the immense potential of clean energy. We’re at the cutting edge of technological development. Providing optimum performance and the highest quality of service is of paramount importance to us. Working on the DC coupled battery storage with RWE affords us the opportunity to do this again at scale. We’ll use the depth of knowledge and experience within our teams to help bring new ideas and technology to the UK market.”
