RWE's story
With 12 sites that include onshore and offshore wind and hydro, RWE is Wales' largest power generator for both gas and renewables. As one of the world's leading energy companies, we have significant expertise in onshore and offshore wind, developing green hydrogen production plants and operating large-scale gas plants.
This has led us to launch the Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC) initiative, which is at the heart of our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2040 and will showcase the technologies that are essential to Wales's decarbonised future.
We believe that Pembroke is a unique site to establish a Net Zero Centre. It's here that we operate a large-scale gas-fired power station with access to gas and electricity networks, manage floating wind opportunities in the Celtic Sea, and have close links to potential industrial off-takers for green hydrogen in South Wales, including the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC).
We are confident that Pembroke has all the elements to become a hub for decarbonisation with floating offshore wind accessibility, land for development of large-scale electrolysers, electricity and gas grid connections, and a gas-fired power station providing firm and flexible power.
To make it happen, we will be working with hundreds of RWE experts across the Welsh, UK and international businesses in generation, renewables, and trading, looking at the deployment of state-of-the-art technologies to help decarbonise the region and support Wales' Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050.
PNZC is made up of three distinct pillars: green hydrogen production, including feasibility studies and potential development of an electrolyser on the Pembroke site, the development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, and decarbonisation of Pembroke Power Station, including studies for carbon capture and the feasibility of hydrogen as a fuel.
Our investment in decarbonisation has the potential to become the green power and gas provider to Wales, assisting other companies to meet their decarbonisation targets and helping the Welsh Government achieve its ambition for Net Zero.
Useful learnings from RWE
It's important to create a viable project, something that stacks up and that people want, need, and understand. This is far easier if you communicate regularly with all stakeholders.
On the topic of communication, having regular conversations with experts is doing us the world of good. Having an idea is great, but you need to connect with people who have done it before so that you have the expertise to deliver yourself.
Similarly, internal conversations are equally as important. It sounds obvious, but in a business the size of RWE, you must have senior figures on board with your aims if you're going to stand any chance of success.
There's also a lot of uncertainty around this type of work as it is still so new – we found this was the case when trying to understand UK regulations. Be aware of this, but don't let it stop you from being brave and taking the leap.
RWE's metrics
We plan to measure success through the CO2 savings our projects deliver and the new jobs and local benefits that we create.
