EDF Renewables selected to provide green power to the London Tube
EDF Renewables selected to provide green power to the London Tube
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2 July 2025
The Power Purchase Agreement to provide green electricity will span 15 years
It supports the construction of a new solar farm
Longfield solar farm will provide approximately 20% of its output to TfL
Mete Coban MBE, deputy mayor for environment and energy (left), Lilli Matson, TfL’s chief safety, health and environment office (centre) and Matthieu Hue, CEO, EDF Renewables (right). Source: EDF Renewables UK
EDF Renewables UK has been appointed by Transport of London (TfL) to generate and deliver electricity via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) over 15 years through its Longfield solar farm in Essex.
The PPA will support the construction of a new solar farm, and once operational, will see renewable energy generated used to power the Tube. It will also support the decarbonisation of the National Grid and increase its renewable energy capacity.
Matthieu Hue, chief, EDF Renewables said the partnership will be a “significant step forward” for the delivery of its Longfield solar farm. He said the agreement is built upon a shared commitment to sustainability and investing in clean energy to help power essential public services and support the UK’s journey to net zero.
Longfield solar farm, which EDF Renewables UK secured the planning permission from the Department of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero for in June 2023, will provide approximately 20% of its output to TfL.
Saqid Khan, mayor of London, said that London is already “leading the charge” when it comes to addressing the climate crisis, so it’s “only right” London continues when it comes to its transport system.
“This new agreement will enable us to power our transport network with clean, green, renewable energy and reduce TfL’s carbon emissions as we continue building a greener and better London for everyone,” Khan said.
The PPA will contribute to the wider ambition to use 100% renewable source electricity across TfL’s operations by 2030, and support the Mayor’s goal for London to be a net zero carbon city by 2030.
Over the 15-year duration of supply under the PPA, TfL expects to save more than 28,000 tonnes of carbon, in its operations. As London’s largest single consumer of electricity, using around 1.6TWh per annum, the contract provides renewable power to TfL at a fixed price, protecting TfL against market volatility and potential disruptions.
Lilli Matson, chief safety, health and environment officer, TfL, said the company will use its purchasing power to “make public transport the most environmentally sustainable choice Londoners can make”.
“By giving EDF Renewables UK, we are also creating new green jobs, improving the local biodiversity and wildlife, and stimulating the national economy,” Matson said. “This will open doors to more public-private approaches to further accelerate the decarbonisation of GB’s grid.”
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Tamara BirchNewsletter and sponsored content editor
Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.
She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs.
In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.
Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.
Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
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