Vattenfall to divest Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone to RWE

The Norfolk Zone consists of three fully consented wind farms – Norfolk Boreas, Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East – and is located off the east coast of England. It is one of the largest offshore wind developments in the world, with a total capacity of 4.2 GW, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 4 million British households. 

Vattenfall believes the agreement with RWE is the best way forward both for the company and for the Norfolk projects. With the divestment, Vattenfall increases its ability to invest in fossil-free projects that better fit its overall portfolio and risk appetite, while the future of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is secured. This divestment means the impairment and provisions Vattenfall reported earlier this year will be reversed. 

Vattenfall will continue to be a significant offshore developer, for example having recently partnered with BASF to develop the 1.5GW Nordlicht cluster off the coast of Germany. 

Likewise, Vattenfall remains committed to the UK, with 1.1GW installed offshore and onshore wind capacity; the 798MW Muir Mhor floating offshore wind farm in development with our JV partner Fred.Olsen Seawind, plus a pipeline of 500MW of onshore wind projects; heat networks under construction in three major UK cities; and one of the UK’s leading independent distribution network operators. 

Anna Borg, Chief Executive Officer at Vattenfall AB, said: 

The Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is incredibly important for the energy transition and reaching net zero. Today’s agreement with RWE is great news for the UK’s energy security, ensuring the Zone’s continued journey towards providing clean electricity for over 4 million homes as well as jobs and investment into the UK. Both the UK and the offshore market remain attractive over the long term, and we will focus our offshore investments in projects which are appropriate to our current risk appetite while continuing to operate and grow our existing fleet of assets. 

The sale of Boreas, Vanguard East and Vanguard West is pending regulatory approvals, and the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. Until then, Vattenfall will continue to develop the Vanguard East and Vanguard West projects. A transitional service agreement for the period after the closing will ensure continuation of the build out. 

Notes to editors

Read more about the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone here 

About Vattenfall 

Vattenfall is a leading European energy company, which for more than 100 years has electrified industries, supplied energy to people’s homes and modernised people’s way of living through innovation and collaboration. We work to enable the fossil freedom that drives society forward. We are committed to building a future where everyone can choose fossil free ways to move, make and live. Our goal is net zero emissions in our entire value chain by 2040 at the latest. We employ approximately 20,000 people, have around 14 million customers and operate mainly in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK. Vattenfall is fully owned by the Swedish state. For more information visit: Fossil freedom