Solar farms could provide up to 64MW of energy, around five per cent of the electricity needed to run the Tube network in the near future.

Transport for London (TfL) is seeking partners to develop solar farms to connect to the London Underground network, with opportunities for a broader connection to TfL's estate. Bidders are invited to participate in a competitive tender, which opens from 31 October.

By using private wire agreements, TfL will directly receive zero-carbon electricity from a local facility, bypassing the National Grid's centralised sources and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and reducing pressure on the central electricity grids.

The invitation to tender is part of the wider ambition to use 100 per cent renewable source electricity across TfL's operations by 2030.

"The Mayor has ambitious goals to cut London's carbon footprint, so powering London's world-leading transport system with green energy is a clear win-win" said Mete Coban, deputy mayor for environment and energy

TfL is the largest single electricity consumer in London with a demand of approximately 1.6TWh per year.

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