Key facts
- RWE said the £12 billion covers construction of both wind farms and their associated transmission infrastructure.
- RWE said Vanguard West and Vanguard East have a combined generation capacity of around 2.8 GW.
- The UK government said the investment will support more than 2,400 jobs during construction and operation.
- RWE said the projects will be fully commissioned in 2030 and can power around three million UK homes.
- The UK's operating offshore wind capacity exceeds 16 GW, with an ambition to reach more than 43 GW by 2030.
RWE and KKR reached financial close on the Vanguard West and Vanguard East offshore wind projects in the UK North Sea, RWE said on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The £12 billion ($16 billion) commitment covers construction of the wind farms and their associated transmission infrastructure.
RWE said the two projects have a combined generation capacity of around 2.8 GW, will be fully commissioned in 2030 and can power around three million UK homes. The company called them one of the UK's largest offshore wind developments.
"Vanguard West and Vanguard East will add significant new generation capacity to the UK's electricity system, making an important contribution to domestic energy security, while also delivering electricity at an affordable price for consumers," RWE said in a statement.
The UK government said the investment, which it described as believed to be the biggest of its kind in UK history to date, will support more than 2,400 jobs during construction and operation. "This major investment in UK renewables is a vote of confidence for building in Britain," Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.
The UK's operating offshore wind capacity exceeds 16 GW, and the government aims to raise installed capacity to more than 43 GW by 2030. Offshore wind generated a record 17.9% share of UK power generation in 2025, or 52 TWh, up from a 17% share, or 48.8 TWh, in 2024, government data showed earlier this year.