Transport for London (TfL) has revealed plans to build giant solar farms to power the Tube service, with areas such as Chorleywood in the running to house the net-zero infrastructure.
The £175million Solar Private Wire project will enable TfL to use zero-carbon electricity, with the company hoping to run entirely on green electricity by 2030.
London Underground Limited (LUL) will begin preparing and developing a strategy to outline potential sites for the farms to be developed. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has revealed he wants the farms to be built on land near Tube stations, so they can be connected to the underground system with “minimal transmission losses”.
According to an article by The Telegraph, TfL could be looking to the leafy suburbs of the capital for this huge venture, with areas such as Chorleywood, The Chalfonts, Amersham and Chesham touted as possible locations.
A competitive tender took place in October, where bidders were invited to participate in the hopes of finding a delivery partner to work with TfL.
Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety health environment officer, said: “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.”
Councillor Jon Bishop, chair of Chorleywood Parish Council’s Planning Committee, spoke to Chorleywood News and said: “We are pleased that [Mayor Khan] is planning to use green energy, but these areas are already challenged in terms of housing needs.
“These green belt areas, like Chorleywood, are already under threat, and whilst they’re near Tube lines, it’s also where people want to live.
“I think [TfL] will struggle to find a space here without competing with housing demands and protecting green belt land.”
To read more about the project, head to www.shorturl.at/bsb6s
Photo credit: Sadiq Khan
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