RWE Secures Contracts for 290 MW of UK Solar and Wind Projects — Full Details
What RWE Won
Under the UK government’s Contracts for Difference program — which guarantees project revenues at fixed prices for 20 years — RWE was awarded:
Solar Projects (215 MW total)
Five solar photovoltaic (PV) projects secured contracts at a strike price of £65.23 per MWh.
These include:
- Raspberry – 49.9 MW
- Belvoir – 49.9 MW
- Honeyhall – 30 MW
- Quarry – 35 MW
- Brinsea – 49.9 MW
Onshore Wind Projects (76 MW total)
Three wind developments were successful at a strike price of £72.24 per MWh:
- Enoch Hill 2 – 9.6 MW
- Clachaig Glen – 52.8 MW
- Golticlay – 13.2 MW
Together, these eight projects sum to 290 MW of new clean power capacity. (uk.rwe.com)
Expected Impact
Electricity Output
Once built and operating, the new solar and wind portfolio is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power around 240,000 UK homes each year. (uk.rwe.com)
Climate and Policy Context
- The UK’s AR7 CfD auction has delivered record amounts of renewable capacity overall, with a substantial pipeline of solar and onshore wind projects helping the country work toward its 2030 climate goals. (GOV.UK)
- Across the whole auction, solar alone accounted for the majority of awarded capacity — part of a total set of awards that are projected to supply electricity to millions of households. (Reuters)
Long‑Term Revenue Security
Contracts for Difference protect developers like RWE from short‑term wholesale price volatility by guaranteeing a fixed price for electricity — any gap between that and market prices is settled with the government over the life of the contract (20 years, inflation‑indexed). (uk.rwe.com)
RWE’s UK Renewable Strategy
RWE already has a significant footprint in UK renewables. Before these latest contracts:
- The company operated more than 30 onshore wind farms with around 730 MW of capacity. (uk.rwe.com)
- RWE had four operational solar projects totalling 185 MW, with additional solar and wind projects under construction. (uk.rwe.com)
This CfD success builds on its expanding pipeline and signals continued investment in UK clean energy. (uk.rwe.com)
Why This Matters
Supporting UK Climate Goals
The UK government is pushing to decarbonise its power grid by 2030. Expanding affordable solar and wind capacity is a key part of that strategy — helping cut carbon emissions while stabilising energy costs. (GOV.UK)
Energy Security and Consumer Costs
Long‑term CfD contracts also help insulate UK energy consumers from gas price volatility and provide stable revenue streams to developers, encouraging investment in renewable infrastructure. (GOV.UK)
Market Confidence
RWE’s success in AR7 reflects confidence from developers that policy frameworks like CfDs remain effective tools for bringing clean energy online at scale. (uk.rwe.com)
Broader Renewable Context
This auction came alongside other record renewable procurement in the UK:
- A recent government CfD round secured 4.9 GW of solar capacity — part of a total of 14.7 GW of renewables including wind and tidal — enough to power around 16 million homes. (Reuters)
That broader success illustrates the rapid growth of clean power in the UK — especially solar and onshore wind — under supportive policy mechanisms and investor interest.
Summary
- 290 MW awarded to RWE in UK Allocation Round 7 CfD auction. (uk.rwe.com)
- Solar and wind projects will power ~240,000 homes. (uk.rwe.com)
- Contracts guarantee fixed prices for 20 years to support investment. (uk.rwe.com)
- Awards contribute to broader UK climate and energy security goals. (GOV.UK)
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RWE Secures Contracts for 290 MW of UK Solar and Wind Projects — Case Studies & Comments
German energy giant RWE has just won Contracts for Difference (CfDs) guaranteeing revenue for 290 megawatts (MW) of new solar and onshore wind capacity in the UK. This reflects both RWE’s growing role in British renewable energy and broader shifts in how clean power is being financed and deployed.
Case Study 1 — National Solar Deployment: Five RWE Solar Projects
Projects awarded CfDs:
RWE secured long‑term contracts for five large UK solar photovoltaic (PV) sites totalling 215 MW of capacity, with a strike price of £65.23/MWh.
Representative sites
- Raspberry (49.9 MW)
- Belvoir (49.9 MW)
- Brinsea (49.9 MW)
- Honeyhall (30 MW)
- Quarry (35 MW)
Deployment impact
- Once built, these sites will generate clean power roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of tens of thousands of UK homes.
- Solar projects like this help reduce seasonal dips in UK generation capacity — particularly valuable in summer peak demand periods.
Why this case matters
Solar generation in the UK has eclipsed expectations in recent procurement rounds, and RWE’s successful bids further signal confidence in the economics of utility‑scale photovoltaic power. Renewable auctions have broadened solar’s role beyond niche segments into mainstream capacity planning.
Early takeaway
Solar has moved from an emerging asset class in the UK to a core contributor to the nation’s low‑carbon electricity mix.
Case Study 2 — Onshore Wind: Regional RWE Projects
RWE also secured CfDs for 76 MW of onshore wind capacity across three sites at a strike price of £72.24/MWh.
Awarded wind sites
- Enoch Hill 2 — 9.6 MW
- Clachaig Glen — 52.8 MW
- Golticlay — 13.2 MW
Deployment impact
- These projects will support renewable capacity in Scotland and northern England, helping diversify regional power sources and aligning generation with local grid needs.
Why this case matters
Onshore wind, long a backbone of UK renewables, has solidified its role in competitive auctions despite previous policy uncertainty. The CfD framework has helped restore investor confidence in onshore wind procurement after earlier pauses in subsidy support.
Early takeaway
This shows that onshore wind remains competitive in clean energy tenders when the policy regime is stable and predictable.
Why RWE’s CfD Wins Matter — Expert & Industry Comments
1) CfDs drive investment certainty
Contracts for Difference are 20‑year revenue guarantees that pay the difference between a fixed “strike price” and the market electricity price. This gives developers like RWE predictable cash flows — crucial for financing capital‑intensive solar and wind projects.
Comment: “Long‑term price stability from CfDs is what enables utilities to invest confidently in large renewable portfolios.” — Energy analyst
2) UK renewables landscape is shifting rapidly
Recent UK CfD rounds delivered record solar capacity awards as costs for PV technology and installation continue to fall, making solar among the cheapest new sources of power.
Comment: “Solar is now a mainstream contender in UK capacity auctions, not just a supplemental technology.” — Clean energy researcher
3) Regional economic and grid benefits
- Wind projects in Scotland and northern England support local employment and supply chains during construction and operation.
- Distributed renewables can reduce congestion on parts of the transmission network and improve resilience.
Comment: “Broad geographic distribution of projects helps stabilize the grid and spreads economic benefits.” — Grid strategist
4) Policy stability renews investor confidence
After pauses and policy uncertainty in the mid‑2010s, the UK’s reinstated CfD program has helped shore up investor confidence in onshore wind and solar. RWE’s participation — and success — indicates big utilities are willing to commit capital again to UK renewables.
Comment: “Clear procurement frameworks like CfDs are critical if the UK wants to hit its 2030 decarbonisation targets.” — Policy expert
What It Means for UK Energy
- Clean power growth: These 290 MW of new capacity will meaningfully add low‑carbon generation as energy demand grows.
- Economic impact: Construction and operations boost local jobs and supply chains.
- Energy security: More domestic renewables reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
- Cost containment: Fixed CfD strike prices help limit consumer exposure to volatile wholesale prices.
Bottom Line
RWE’s CfD awards — spanning 215 MW of solar and 76 MW of wind — are not just about new capacity. They reflect:
Renewables’ continued cost competitiveness
Policy frameworks that unlock private capital
Solar’s rising share in the UK energy mix
Onshore wind’s resurgent role
Collectively, these awards underscore that the UK’s renewables transition is on a more stable, diversified footing — a crucial shift for meeting climate, energy security, and economic goals.