In a bid to further decarbonise the capital’s rail infrastructure, the London Trams depot in Croydon is set to slash its carbon footprint, becoming greener and cheaper after securing funding as part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
The grant of £592,000 will work to part-fund several improvements at the London Trams depot, with the remaining funding comes from TfL’s own decarbonisation investment from its current Business plan. Planning is now underway with this improvement project currently expected for completion by 2025.
Mark Davis, TfL’s General Manager for London Trams, said:
“The planned improvements at the Therapia Lane depot are key to demonstrate that removal of fossils fuels from large, hard-to-decarbonise depots is feasible. Once this work is complete, the depot will not only be cleaner and greener it will be better shielded from more costly fossil fuels to help provide significant cost savings.”
The upcoming works for the depot will see upgrades conducted to the heating systems delivered through a mixture of efficient heat pumps and infrared panel heaters that will replace ageing and inefficient gas boilers. To offset the increased electricity consumption to accommodate the new heating system, 1,800m2 of south-facing roof space for solar panels and improved insulation will be integrated into the depot.
Chiara Lorenzetti, Salix Assistant Director, said:
“We are looking forward to working on the London Trams project to help deliver this innovative decarbonisation project.
“It is very exciting as this London Trams depot will be the first of a number of low carbon depots on the Transport for London (TfL) network.
“The funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will make a positive impact to a greener future for the network.”
The upgrades being conducted at the Therapia Lane depot is just a small part of TfL’s wider package of investment and projects that will further decarbonise London’s transport network in the attempt to meet the Mayor of London’s net zero ambitions for 2030 for the city.
TfL has recently begun tendering for a Power Purchase Agreement to mitigate its electricity consumption through the procurement of between 80 and 200 GWh per year to provide up to 10% of its requisite levels.
Further attempts to reduce its environmental impact across its wider network will come from upgraded LEDs to reduce electricity consumption, accompanied by actively seeking new locations for planting trees and installing other forms of green infrastructure. Drainage and flooding prevention measures will also be supported, especially in outer London, through maintaining and developing urban greening features.
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