TfL plans to set up dedicated 'solar farms' to power the London Underground

The Tube could beryllium part-powered with solar energy, nether Transport for London plans to power to “green” electricity.

TfL is inviting bids to found “solar farms” that would harvest the sun’s rays and person them into vigor to powerfulness Tube trains.

Locations are yet to beryllium identified but volition astir apt person to beryllium adjacent to the Underground web and could star panels connected roof-top buildings oregon connected the ground.

It is portion of TfL’s wider ambition to usage 100 per cent renewable root energy crossed its operations by 2030.

TfL is the largest energy user successful London, with a request of astir 1.6TWh per twelvemonth - equivalent to the energy consumed by astir 420,000 homes.

It estimates that star farms could supply up to 64 MW of cleanable vigor – astir 5 per cent of the energy needed to tally the Tube.

This could besides make much “green jobs” and thrust the zero-carbon economy.

Lilli Matson, TfL's main safety, wellness and situation officer, said: “We’re inviting bidders to assistance america present purpose-built star PV farms for the Tube network, successful a determination to marque the vigor we usage and trust connected cleaner, greener and perchance much cost-efficient.

“This is simply a commencement of a semipermanent travel to decarbonise London’s transport system. We privation to enactment up of the curve and marque a important publication to the acceleration of GB’s grid modulation towards nett zero.”

Mete Coban, lawman politician for situation and energy, said: “Not lone volition the star panels assistance TfL to chopped moving costs and prevention passengers money, they volition besides make greenish jobs portion helping TfL to trim its c emissions.”

TfL is besides converting lighting wrong stations, autobus shelters and connected trains to LEDs, which usage up to 60 per cent little vigor than accepted lighting..

More than a 3rd of Tube stations person been converted to LED lighting, and TfL expects to person each autobus shelters, including those utilized successful advertizing panels, converted to LEDs successful the coming months.