Network Rail has signed a new agreement for the supply of renewable energy, under which approximately 65% of its non-traction electricity consumption will come from an offshore wind farm operated by RWE. The contract represents a new step in the British rail infrastructure manager’s plan to power all offices, depots, and the 20 stations it directly manages from sustainable sources by 2030.
The agreement, a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CoPPA), is the second signed by Network Rail within a year and will provide 300 GWh of renewable electricity per year for five years.
Energy from an offshore wind farm off the coast of Wales
The electricity will be supplied from the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, located approximately 15 miles off the north coast of Wales in the Irish Sea.
According to Network Rail, the agreement is expected to reduce the company’s emissions by approximately 168,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, compared to conventional energy sources. The company illustrates this impact with a striking comparison: the equivalent of planting 6.5 million trees.
The goal: all non-traction energy from renewable sources by 2030
Network Rail says its goal is for all electricity used for non-traction activities—that is, in offices, depots, and stations—to come from sustainable sources by 2030.
“This contract marks an important step in our transition to renewable energy. Rail is already one of the most sustainable modes of transport, but we recognize that there is still much to be done,” said Paul Marshall, Network Rail’s chief financial officer.
He added that the agreement with RWE represents “a major step” toward the company’s goal and said it also demonstrates the role that large organizations can play in stimulating investment in clean energy.
Second major agreement in a year
The new contract follows another CoPPA signed in 2025 with EDF Renewables, which secured 64 GWh of clean energy per year from a new solar farm currently under construction.
Together, the two agreements will cover approximately 80% of Network Rail’s non-traction electricity consumption from renewable sources, bringing the company closer to its 2030 target.
Power will begin to be delivered in 2027
Electricity from the Gwynt y Môr wind farm will begin powering Network Rail’s offices, stations, and depots starting April 1, 2027.
The wind farm was commissioned in 2015 and features 160 wind turbines, with a total installed capacity of 576 MW.
For Network Rail, the agreement is part of its sustainability and emissions reduction strategy, at a time when the British rail infrastructure is seeking to strengthen its profile as a low-impact mode of transport.
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