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RWE has completed the sale of its stake in the Five Estuaries offshore wind farm to EDF power solutions UK and Ireland, which takes over as lead developer on behalf of the joint venture. RWE confirmed on 8 October that the transfer of its 33.33 per cent holding was complete. The other partners are a Macquarie-led consortium with 25 per cent, and ESB and Sumitomo Corporation with 20.83 per cent each. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
From consent to construction
Five Estuaries is an extension of the existing Galloper wind farm in the southern North Sea, across two seabed areas covering about 128 square kilometres combined. Its consent allows up to 79 turbines with a maximum tip height of 370 metres, and the project is expected to generate the equivalent of the annual electricity use of around a million UK homes. It received a Development Consent Order from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 December 2025.
Power would come ashore at Sandy Point, between Frinton-on-Sea and Holland-on-Sea in Essex, and run underground to a new substation west of Little Bromley, connecting to the East Anglia Connection Node on National Grid’s proposed Norwich to Tilbury line. The developers aim to begin construction in 2028 and to be operating by the end of the decade.
RWE’s position
RWE says it will reinvest the proceeds in its existing pipeline of consented offshore projects and will stay involved with Five Estuaries for a short period to support the handover. A company spokesperson said the project’s priority is to move from development into construction and then operation. RWE was the largest offshore wind winner in the seventh Contracts for Difference allocation round, whose results were announced in January, securing support for five projects with a combined capacity of 6.9GW.
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