RWE and KKR Reach Financial Close on £12bn UK Wind Projects

The Vanguard West and Vanguard East projects reached financial close, German energy company RWE said Wednesday. The company described the development as one of the UK’s largest offshore wind projects. The investment is also reported as $16 billion and is believed to be the biggest of its kind in UK history to date.

Once operational, the wind farms are expected to be capable of supplying electricity to around three million UK homes. RWE said the projects would add generation capacity, support domestic energy security and provide electricity at an affordable price for consumers.

The UK government said the investment is expected to support more than 2,400 jobs during construction and operation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called it “a vote of confidence for building in Britain” and said the turbines would put power under British control rather than leave the country “at the mercy of events on the other side of the world.”

The UK has more than 16 GW of offshore wind capacity in operation and aims to exceed 43 GW by 2030. Government data showed offshore wind supplied a record 17.9% of the country’s electricity in 2025, generating 52 TWh, compared with 48.8 TWh and a 17% share in 2024.