Our renewables.digital research team has identified RWE AG as Germany’s largest renewable energy developer, with a renewable capacity of around 21.000 MW. Based on the company’s installed capacity, investment volume and project pipeline, the renewables.digital team concludes that RWE is one of the largest renewable energy developers not only in Germany but also in Europe.
Which renewable energy assets is RWE developing?
RWE AG has over 125 years of experience as an energy producer and supplier. For most of its history, RWE has produced energy from coal. However, due to the global energy transition, RWE has shifted its primary energy production to renewable sources. Thanks to its long-standing expertise in this sector, the company’s first wind project became operational in 1984, this change was implemented smoothly. The most significant step towards renewable energy was taken in 2008 with the establishment of RWE Innogy GmbH. This marked the beginning of the transition away from coal, which will be completed by 2030. To achieve this goal, RWE is developing projects in the areas of onshore and offshore wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power, battery storage and biomass.
RWE’s ambitious goals and long-standing expertise have made it the largest renewable energy developer in Germany. The data speaks for itself. RWE has a total installed renewable energy capacity of 21,000 MW. This includes 5.7 GW of offshore wind energy, nearly 10 GW of onshore energy, 4.1 GW of solar energy, and 500 MW of hydro energy. Further investments totalling €35 billion are planned for the period from 2025 to 2030, with the aim of expanding the company’s electricity generation, storage and electrolysis capacities. The corporate’s goal is to reach 65 gigawatts of green net installed capacity by 2030.
Overview of RWE’s portfolio and pipeline
From its headquarters in Essen, RWE oversees various companies that develop renewable energy projects around the globe. RWE Clean Energy, a subsidiary of the RWE Group, is a leading renewable energy company in the USA, with a portfolio of around 10 GW of installed capacity. RWE Offshore Wind GmbH is the second-largest offshore wind energy developer worldwide in terms of total capacity. Finally, RWE Renewables Europe & Australia has offices in Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Sweden, Ireland, Greece and Australia, from where it realises various projects, including one of Europe’s largest onshore wind farms in Sweden and one of Australia’s largest solar power plants. In addition to classic renewable energy sources, RWE is investing in the development of innovative hydrogen projects. So far, RWE has 10 GW of hydrogen projects at the early development stage.
Alternative candidates for the German renewable energy developer ranking
Our team also considered several other prominent renewable energy developers in Germany for the top position.
BayWa r.e. is a leading global developer and service provider of renewable energy solutions, as well as a PV wholesaler. To date, the company has successfully connected over 6 GW of capacity to the grid and currently manages plants with an output of more than 10.5 GW. These projects are developed through our network of 34 branches worldwide. BayWa.re is also a major player in the German renewable energy sector but is currently undergoing restructuring. Therefore, its business development is insecure for the future and needs to be monitored closely.
EnBW is an energy supplier serving 5.5 million electricity and gas customers. As part of its shift from fossil fuels to renewables, the company plans to invest €40 billion in the energy transition by 2030. EnBW currently operates 2.3 GW of wind (onshore and offshore), 1.1 GW of solar, nearly 3 GW of hydroelectric capacity, and is also developing hydrogen projects. Although EnBW is a major player in the European renewable energy sector, it lacks the international presence of RWE.
ABO Energy develops wind, solar, battery, and hydrogen projects worldwide. To date, it has delivered around 6.4 GW of renewable capacity. Its projects are primarily located in Europe, especially Germany. ABO Energy is currently working on 32.2 GW of grid-connected wind, solar, and battery developments.
But neither of the other candidates can compete with RWE in terms of investment, planned projects or installed renewable energy sources.
Picture Sources: Veronica White via Unsplash
