TfL plans solar farms to power parts of the Underground

The Tube Will Be Part-Powered By Solar Panels

Transport for London (TfL) is planning to power parts of the London Underground using electricity generated by new solar farms, as part of its wider goal to run the transport network entirely on renewable energy by 2030.

TfL currently consumes around 1.6 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity each year, making it the largest single electricity user in London. Under the plans, new solar installations could supply up to 65,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually, roughly equivalent to two-thirds of the Victoria line’s yearly power demand.

To deliver the scheme, TfL has signed an agreement with SSE Energy Solutions, which will develop solar generation sites capable of supplying electricity directly to the transport network.

The arrangement will use a “private wire” system, meaning the electricity will travel directly from the solar installations to the Underground network without passing through the National Grid. TfL said this approach could help reduce pressure on the wider electricity system while improving energy security and cost stability.

SSE Energy Solutions will now work with TfL to identify suitable locations for the solar farms. These are expected to be located close to the transport network so they can connect directly. The installations could include ground-mounted solar arrays as well as rooftop panels.

The agreement will also guarantee TfL a fixed price for the electricity generated, helping protect the organisation from fluctuations in energy markets and potentially reducing some transmission costs associated with using the national grid.

The project forms part of TfL’s long-term energy purchasing strategy, which aims for up to 70% of its electricity demand to be supplied through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Last year TfL announced its first such agreement, which will see a new solar facility built in Longfield, Essex, providing renewable electricity for the Underground.

The remainder of the organisation’s electricity needs will be met largely through flexible green energy tariffs, supporting TfL’s ambition to operate entirely on renewable electricity by 2030.