The partnership represents a significant step in TfL’s push to reduce emissions and move towards cleaner energy across its operations.

The project could generate up to 65,000 megawatt hours of renewable electricity, an amount roughly equal to two-thirds of the annual electricity consumption of the Victoria line. Instead of sourcing electricity through the traditional supply route, the power produced by these solar installations will be delivered directly to the Underground through a private-wire connection, allowing TfL to access zero-carbon electricity without routing it through the National Grid.

As London’s largest single electricity consumer, TfL plays a crucial role in the capital’s energy transition. The organisation uses around 1.6 terawatt hours of electricity every year, which is comparable to the amount used by more than half a million homes. Supplying even a portion of that demand with locally generated renewable energy could significantly reduce emissions while easing pressure on centralised electricity networks.

Now that SSE Energy Solutions has been chosen as the delivery partner, work will begin to identify suitable locations for the solar facilities. Because the electricity will connect directly to the transport network, potential sites will likely be situated close to Underground infrastructure. The installations could include a mix of ground-mounted solar arrays as well as rooftop panels placed on suitable buildings.

Once operational, the solar projects could produce enough renewable energy each year to power around 25,000 homes. Over a 25-year period, they could also prevent more than 27,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, roughly equivalent to nearly 33,000 flights between London and New York City. Alongside the environmental benefits, the developments are expected to stimulate green employment and investment in the renewable energy sector.

The arrangement will also allow TfL to secure renewable electricity at a fixed price, protecting the organisation from fluctuations in energy markets while strengthening the reliability of its energy supply. By sourcing power locally and bypassing parts of the traditional electricity distribution system, the private-wire approach could also reduce some of the costs associated with delivering electricity through the national network.

The agreement forms part of TfL’s long-term energy purchasing strategy, which aims to secure up to 70 per cent of the electricity it needs through Power Purchase Agreements. One such deal is already underway following a procurement process that selected a partner to build a solar facility in Longfield. That project will supply renewable electricity to the Tube while supporting the wider decarbonisation of the UK’s energy grid.

Any remaining electricity demand will mainly be met through flexible green tariffs as TfL works towards its goal of running its entire operation on renewable electricity by 2030. The move also supports the ambition of Sadiq Khan to make London a net-zero carbon city by the end of the decade.

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Mete Coban welcomed the development, describing it as an important step towards powering London’s transport system with clean energy while helping create jobs and relieve pressure on the national electricity network.

The solar initiative is just one part of a wider programme aimed at cutting emissions across TfL’s operations. The organisation is continuing to remove fossil fuels from its buildings and is investing in cleaner transport technologies, including the transition to zero-emission buses and support vehicles. More than 2,800 buses in London are already zero-emission models, forming the largest fleet of its kind in Western Europe and helping to accelerate change across the UK bus industry.

Energy efficiency improvements are also being rolled out across the network. Lighting in stations, bus shelters and trains is being replaced with LED technology, which can use up to 60 per cent less energy while improving brightness. More than 40 per cent of Underground stations have already been upgraded, and TfL expects to convert all bus shelters, including those used for advertising panels, to LEDs in the near future.

Efforts to reduce emissions also extend to construction projects. TfL recently signed up to the Five Client Carbon Commitments developed by the Construction Leadership Council, which set out practical steps for reducing carbon across major infrastructure developments. Projects at locations including Old Street, Neasden and Surrey Quays are already incorporating measures to lower emissions by reducing the use of high-carbon materials such as steel and concrete and improving construction processes from the earliest planning stages.

TfL’s long-term ambition also includes achieving emission-free deliveries to construction sites by 2030 and removing diesel from those sites entirely by 2035. These initiatives are guided by the organisation’s Corporate Environment Plan, launched in 2021, which sets out how TfL will contribute to making London a net-zero city while delivering the environmental goals of the Mayor’s transport strategy.

Alongside measures such as the London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone and the continued growth of zero-emission capable taxis and buses, the expansion of renewable energy projects like the new solar installations represents another step towards creating a cleaner and more sustainable transport network for the capital.

Photo by nataliiazhekova