Engie has been chosen by Transport for London (TfL) to install solar panels and to implement energy conservation measures across the TfL estate.
The contract, awarded under the RE:FIT framework will be delivered alongside the Mayor of London’s £34 million Energy for Londoners programme and builds on the existing partnership between the two organisations.
Work is now underway to identify prime locations where solar power could help reduce energy costs with new panels expected to increase solar capacity across TfL by 1.1MW.
When combined with existing panels, it could help cut CO2 emissions by around 480 tonnes a year, TfL said.
The ongoing first phase of the programme, estimated at £5 million, will be delivered across 24 locations including depots, river piers, bus stations, train crew accommodation and the Acton Railway Engineering Workshop. The initiative forms part of the London Environment Strategy to be a zero-carbon city by 2050.
The first panels, which will be delivered as part of TfL’s new Train Modification Unit at Acton Depot, will be installed from early 2019. Further sites could also be fitted with solar panels in the future, subject to funding.
Wilfrid Petrie, chief executive of Engie UK and Ireland, said the solar energy project will lower energy costs and improve the air quality for Londoners.
Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor of environment and energy, said: “As part of the mayor’s ambitious Energy for Londoners programme, Transport for London will be expanding its use of solar power and upgrading its buildings, so they use less energy.”
She added the mayor wants “even more” local clean energy in London to power transport, homes and businesses to help cut pollution and clean up London’s air.
Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at TFL, added: “Improving London’s air quality and reducing our impact on the environment are key elements of the mayor’s transport strategy and expanding our solar capability across the business will ensure we do this in a cost efficient and technologically advanced way.”
Across the capital, several buildings already have solar panels, including 55 Broadway in St James’s Park and the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
The RE:FIT programme was created in 2008, by the Greater London Authority and is now a national scheme with more than 200 organisations and over 600 retrofitted properties.
As part of the mayor’s multi-million pound Energy for Londoners programme, Sadiq Khan confirmed he would be seeking tenders for a number of “ambitious projects”.