Network Rail has signed a new deal that marks a significant milestone in its journey towards powering all its offices, depots and managed stations with renewable energy. The deal will see renewable energy company RWE supply around 65% of its non-traction electricity from one of its offshore wind farms.
Network Rail’s second Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CoPPA) within a year, the deal will enable the delivery of 300 GWh of renewable electricity annually over five years.
All power will be supplied from RWE’s Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, located 15 miles off the coast of North Wales in the Irish Sea, which will help Network Rail reduce its carbon emissions by around 168,000 tonnes of CO2e – roughly the equivalent of planting 6.5 million trees.
Paul Marshall, Network Rail’s Chief Financial Officer said:
'This contract marks a significant step forward in our transition to renewable energy. Rail is already one of the most sustainable ways to travel, but we recognise there is much more we can do.
This agreement with RWE represents a major step towards our ambition to power all our non-traction electricity - across offices, stations and depots - from renewable sources by 2030. It also highlights the important role organisations can play in driving investment in clean energy.
As we move towards Great British Railways, this deal underlines our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and building a more integrated, sustainable rail network, not just for the millions who rely on it today, but for future generations.'
The agreement forms part of Network Rail’s Greener Strategy, which includes intentions to have all non-traction electricity used across its offices, depots and all of its 20 managed stations sourced from sustainable energy by 2030, as well as plans to achieve a sustainable railway, following a CoPPA signed with EDF Renewables in 2025, which secured 64 GWh of clean energy per year from a new solar farm currently under construction.
Together, both agreements will provide roughly 80% of the organisation’s non-traction electricity from renewable sources.
Electricity from RWE’s Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm will begin powering Network Rail’s offices, stations and depots from 1 April 2027.
Source: Network Rail
