German Trains to Run on Offshore Wind

Innogy and RWE Supply & Trading have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Deutsche Bahn (German Rail – DB) for the supply of electricity from the Nordsee Ost offshore wind farm.

The supplied volume comprises 25MW, which is the equivalent of four turbines, representing 8% of the total production of the 295MW offshore wind farm.

This contract, which marks the first offshore wind Corporate PPA in Germany, will begin in 2024 and will run for five years.

According to innogy, the power is produced at the offshore wind farm for a fixed price and is used directly by Deutsche Bahn. RWE Supply & Trading acts as the contract and retail partner.

“This is a win-win deal for all parties involved. From 2024, Deutsche Bahn will run climate-friendly trains with green electricity from our Nordsee Ost offshore wind farm. After the reduction of state subsidies, we are pleased to have agreed commercial terms for the supply of electricity from the first turbines at our wind farm and created scope for further investment in this way,” said Hans Bünting, COO Renewables innogy SE,

Deutsche Bahn covers 57% of its energy requirements with energy from renewables and is planning to have its entire rail powered by renewable energy by 2038.

“Over the next few years, we will consistently replace expiring contracts based on fossil-fuel generation with renewable energy. Before the end of September, we will start a further Europe-wide invitation to tender for the long-term purchase of green electricity,” said Torsten Schein, CEO of DB Energie.

Nordsee Ost comprises 48 Senvion 6.2M126 turbines located approximately 35km north of the island of Heligoland in the German North Sea. The wind farm was fully commissioned in May 2015.