Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, announced that London’s Tube network is moving a step closer to being completely powered by renewable source energy. This will help to meet his target of London reaching net-zero carbon by 2030.  

The Mayor revealed that Transport for London has launched a Power Purchase Agreement tender, with the ambition of using 100 per cent renewable source electricity across its operations by 2030 and catalysing investment into renewable infrastructure. This first tender aims to purchase approximately 10 per cent of TfL’s required electricity from renewable energy sources and new build assets.

TfL is one of the largest consumers of electricity in the UK, with a requirement for up to 1.6TWh per year, which is equivalent to the electricity consumed by around 420,000 homes [1] or 12 per cent of homes across London. The tender will guarantee that the electricity supplied to power the Tube and TfL’s operations through the contract will come from renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power. TfL’s large demand for renewable source electricity will help increase demand for new solar and wind generation in the UK, which will help to create new green jobs and support the economy.   

The Mayor of London and Chair of C40 Cities, Sadiq Khan, said: 

“The main cause of the climate emergency is fossil fuels so I’m calling on cities around the world to follow London’s lead and to commit to phasing out their use.

 “The cost of inaction to our economies, livelihoods, the environment and the health of Londoners is far greater than the cost of transitioning to net-zero - and we simply don’t have time to waste. This first step to powering the Tube network and TfL’s wider operations with 100 per cent renewable source electricity is another crucial part of reducing carbon emissions and building a better, greener London for everyone.”