ore RWE npower renewables is the UK's most innovative and experienced renewable energy developer, with the resources and skills to plan, design and successfully operate a diverse range of projects. Our current portfolio comprises generating capacity using a range of technologies:

Onshore wind

As the most commercially and technologically viable option for delivering clean energy at the present time, wind power has a crucial role to play in reducing carbon emissions, not just in the future but now. We operate 22 onshore wind farms with a total installed capacity of 423 megawatts (MW).

Advanced technology and sophisticated control systems mean that a single, typical 2MW wind turbine will generate enough electricity to meet the average needs of well over 1,000 homes each year. This is an important natural energy resource which generates clean power and can also help bring new income and diversification to the countryside.

Offshore wind

Located 7km off the North Wales coast, our North Hoyle project is the UK's first major offshore wind farm, generating enough electricity to meet the average demand of some 40,000 households each year. The neighbouring Rhyl Flats was constructed during 2008/2009 and is the largest operating wind farm in Wales and one of the most powerful operating offshore wind farms in the UK.  With an installed capacity of 90MW, it will supply the annual average electricity needs of approximately 61,000 homes. Finally, we are also concluding plans before beginning construction of third offshore wind farm Gwynt y Môr, for which we were granted consent to build in December 2008.

Hydro

Man has been using the water wheel as an energy source for thousands of years. Today we operate 18 hydroelectric power stations in the UK that use advanced versions of this ancient technology to produce 67MW of clean electricity. We are working to increase this portfolio of small-scale hydro schemes across the UK, and have further sites at various stages of development and construction.

Co-firing biomass

We currently operate 3 power stations that are involved with co-firing biomass, which to date have a combined biomass capacity of around 35MW. Co-firing is the simultaneous use of fossil fuels and biomass (organic material) typically at existing power stations. This allows the substitution of around 4% of the fossil fuel with materials such as sawdust. In the long term, we are aiming to co-fire an increasing amount of purposely grown "energy crops", for example willow. We are one of the leaders in the practical application of this technology and are actively involved with farmers and landowners to promote a secure supply of energy crops to sustain an ongoing biomass industry.

Generating efficiency

As our expertise develops and economies of scale take effect, costs of generation using these technologies are becoming increasingly competitive with other energy sources.