TfL plans solar farms to supply London Underground power

Transport for London (TfL) intends to establish solar farms with the aim of contributing to the power supply for its Underground system. The transportation authority has issued a call for applications from prospective “delivery partners” to supply up to 64 megawatts of zero-carbon electricity, generated by specially constructed solar farms. According to TfL, this initiative is projected to cover approximately 5% of the electricity required to operate the Tube network and would circumvent the National Grid. TfL states that it represents London’s largest individual electricity consumer, with consumption comparable to that of around 420,000 households, and anticipates that the project will alleviate strain on the main power grids. Furthermore, TfL asserted that a private wire system could yield financial benefits over an extended period. The organization also indicated that this action would contribute to achieving the mayor’s objective of a net-zero carbon London by the year 2030. Lilli Matson of TfL commented: “As London’s strong, green heartbeat, we’re unlocking new ways to make our network and the energy we consume greener.“By opening up new opportunities in the energy market and creating green jobs along the way, this is a start of a long-term journey to decarbonise London’s iconic transport system.”