Transport for London  (TfL) has begun market testing with the aim of procuring renewables to cover 10% of its 1.6TWh  electricity demand by 2022 and 100% by 2030.

TfL power contracts are currently manged by the Crown Commercial Service, but the London mayor’s office said the aim would be to source power from renewable generators via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Through the market testing TfL will also look at the potential for using renewable electricity to meet demand from other functions totalling  143GWh annually. That includes the Greater London Authority, London Fire Commissioner, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, London Legacy Development Corporation and Old Oak Common and Park Royal Development Corporation.

Further ahead the Mayor wants to look at opportunities to meet London’s wider public sector electricity demand with renewables. That could include buildings run by London’s local authorities, schools and leisure centres. In total these organisations along with the GLA group – currently consume around 3TWh of electricity every year.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “As one of the single biggest purchasers of energy in London, it is important that TfL leads the way on green energy. This is a vital step towards my ambitions for TfL – and London – to be zero-carbon by 2030. Covid-19 has had a devastating impact but as we recover we want to make sure that we build a better, greener and more equal city. This work to secure cost-effective and renewable energy for the rail network, with ambitions to include the wider GLA group and beyond, will play a key role in London’s green recovery and accelerating action on the climate emergency.”

TfL has been using waste heat from the London Underground network to provide heating and hot water to 1,350 homes, a school and two leisure centres in Islington since earlier this year and TfL is now talking to the wider market about potential future opportunities across its network.

Complete the market testing questionnaire here