RWE, the UK’s largest power generator and a world leading renewable energy company, has signed a five-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Thames Water, the UK’s largest water company, which supplies drinking water to around 16 million customers in London and south-east England and is also responsible for wastewater disposal. Thames Water will source electricity produced from RWE’s Camster onshore wind farm to power sites and operations across the Thames Water network (London and the Thames Valley). From December 2025 until 2030, RWE will supply a total of 132 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually to Thames Water. The energy will supply up to 15% of Thames Water’s essential services.
The Camster onshore wind farm is located in Caithness, Scotland and was commissioned in 2012. It has 25 turbines and a generation capacity of 50 megawatts. To date, the wind farm has contributed £200,000 from its community fund to local projects that benefit the community.
Olaf Lubenow, Head of Commodity Solutions UK, North & South Europe at RWE Supply & Trading: 'Water is the elixir of life and access to clean drinking water is essential. We are therefore delighted to support Thames Water in its important societal role by providing green electricity.'
Xiang Cheng, Head of Energy and Carbon at Thames Water: 'Our purpose is to deliver life's essential service, so our customers, communities and the environment can thrive . We´re committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and transforming the way we generate, purchase and use energy. It takes a significant amount of energy to keep taps flowing and toilets flushing, and energy is one of our greatest costs. Power Purchase Agreements are a mechanism which allow us to buy renewable energy at a fixed cost for a sustained period of time. This agreement will help us manage future planning for energy costs.'
The UK’s largest water company uses a mix of self-generated power, green supply contracts and PPAs to power its operations with 100% renewable electricity. Since 1930 Thames Water has cut its emissions by almost 70% and has been producing renewable energy from sites since the 1930s. In 2024/25 Thames Water self-generated and used 475.3 GWh of renewable energy, covering 25.8% of its own energy needs. Looking ahead to 2030, the company plans to build on its work of the previous 10 years to reduce its carbon emissions, including generating more renewable energy, improving energy and fuel efficiency, reducing the use of fossil fuels, exploring lower carbon processes and building a sustainable supply chain.
RWE - a leading renewable company
Through PPAs, RWE can offer its customers stable and predictable costs while helping them to improve their carbon footprint. PPAs also enable companies to reduce their carbon emissions in a cost-effective manner.
More information about the Camster onshore wind farm can be found here. Pictures are available at the RWE Media Centre (Credit: RWE).
Source: RWE
