UK: Transport for London has awarded EDF Renewables UK a 15-year power purchase agreement to provide solar energy to cover part of the London Underground’s electricity needs.
EDF Renewables UK subsidiary Longfield Solar Energy Farm is to build a solar farm at Longfield in Essex from 2026. This will supply 80 GWh/year – around 20% of its output – to TfL, which is London’s largest single consumer of electricity at 1·6 TWh/year. TfL’s long-term aim is to purchase up to 70% of its total electricity needs through PPAs, with the remainder mainly through a flexible green tariff. This will contribute to a wider ambition to use 100% renewable electricity across TfL’s operations by 2030.
‘As one of the largest electricity consumers in the UK, we are absolutely committed to doing what we can to decarbonise London through clean, renewable energy sources’, said TfL’s Chief Safety, Health & Environment Officer Lilli Matson on June 25. ‘This PPA is a landmark moment for us as this agreement enables EDF Renewables UK to invest in a brand new facility for clean electricity supply for our Tube network and GB’s grid – a significant step in our mission to make all our services powered this way by 2030.’
Rollo Maschietto, Interim Head of Power at the Renewable Energy Association, said ‘this is exactly the kind of leadership we need from major public bodies to unlock investment in clean energy infrastructure. TfL is helping to bring forward large-scale UK solar – the cheapest and quickest form of new electricity generation. The more solar we deploy, the lower bills will be and the less exposed we’ll be to volatile fossil fuel markets. This is a blueprint for how the public sector can get behind the energy transition while supporting green jobs and strengthening our energy security.’
