As plans to make the Tube network reach zero emissions by 2030 pick up pace, a new study by British Business Energy has revealed how many wind turbines and solar panels would be required to power the network completely via renewables.
The London Underground consumes 1.2TWh of energy every year, the equivalent of powering 46,000 homes.
The study has calculated that 200 wind turbines or 5.6 million solar panels would be required in order to power the network for a year. That amount of solar panels would demand a space the equivalent of the entire London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, while 200 wind turbines would occupy the whole of Lambeth.
TfL have been charged with the task of leading the way on green energy use by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, as part of plans to make the city of London carbon neutral by 2050.
TfL is London’s biggest electricity user although 16 per cent of the electricity used to power the Underground already comes from renewable sources.
Rather than install hundreds of turbines and millions of panels, the power required by TfL would be purchased from renewable energy providers.
The need to secure cost-effective and renewable energy for the rail network is coupled with significant changes to working life as a result of COVID-19 that might have long-term implications on the use of the Underground.
Long-term remote, home and flexible working, as well as the rise of cycle as a preferred mode of transport in the city, will inevitably result in reduced use of the tube.
That, according to the BBE, presents an opportunity to hit the zero emissions target sooner and with less investment. If, that is, people are encouraged to continue working remotely.
BBE founder Ian Wright said: “The reality is that unless the government seizes the current opportunity to assist in allowing more Londoners to continue working from home i.e. by providing more support to businesses in the adoption of new technology and home working equipment, the strain on TFL services will be further reduced, creating the opportunity for carbon neutrality to be reached earlier without having to invest as much capital in renewable energy systems.”
Click here for more details.
Photo credit credit: Sandor Szmutko / Shutterstock.com
