Partnership announced with SSE Energy Solutions to develop solar infrastructure to help power London Underground
Millions of journeys on London’s Underground rail network will soon be powered by locally generated solar energy, thanks to a new partnership between operator Transport for London (TfL) and SSE Energy Solutions.
Photo by Belinda Fewings / Unsplash
The project is one of the first ‘private wire’ solar schemes developed for a major urban transport network. In a private wire scheme, electricity is generated locally on a solar farm sited on owned or leased land, and supplied directly rather than routed through the national grid.
Once operation, the TfL project is expected to generate up to 65,000 MWh of renewable electricity each year, equivalent to some 66% of the annual power demand of the Victoria line, or the electricity used by some 25,000 homes. Over a 25-year period, the project could save the equivalent of more than 27,000 tonnes of CO2.
The move will also ease pressure on the UK’s electricity infrastructure and improve energy resilience – an important factor given the volatility of energy markets.
In total, TfL uses about 1.6 TWh of electricity per year to power trains, stations and operational infrastructure. Its ambition is to be using 100% renewable electricity by 2030; generating power closer to where it is used is key to that transition.
The agreement with SSE Energy Solutions is structured through a power purchase agreement (PPA) as part of TfL’s wider energy purchasing strategy, which aims to secure up to 70% of its electricity through PPAs. SSE Energy Solutions will invest in, design, build and operate the solar installations, providing renewable electricity without requiring upfront capital investment from TfL.
The scheme is expected to include both ground-mounted solar arrays and rooftop installations, designed to integrate with existing infrastructure across the capital.
Lilli Matson, Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer at TfL, says: ‘We’re excited to be working together with SSE Energy Solutions to deliver renewable electricity directly to the Tube network. Once built, the new solar installations will provide locally generated renewable electricity, reducing the pressure on the National Grid while also helping to protect us against market volatility.’
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