Solar panels on three south London train stations generated 1,136,387kWh of energy last year – equivalent to boiling the kettle to make 36 million cups of tea.
The energy savings are thanks to a network of panels installed on Denmark Hill, Streatham Hill and Blackfriars stations by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
Jason Brooker, Head of Environment at GTR, said: “Creating our own energy, including through the incredibley successful solar panel network, is the next logical step. We are incredibly pleased with the results to date – and hope this will be the beginning of more savings to come.”
At Denmark Hill Station, a photovoltaic film was integrated into the new roof to produce enough energy to power the building, and a surplus that goes back into the grid.
In 2021, 526 solar panels were installed in collaboration with Network Rail on Streatham Hill Depot’s roof.
Last year, panels across those two stations generated 236,387 kWh of energy, saving 46 tonnes of CO2.
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When Blackfriars Bridge was fitted with 4,400 roof-mounted solar panels in 2012, it made it the world’s largest solar-powered bridge.
The bridge alone produced 900,000 kWh of energy last year thanks to its 6,000m2 of photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
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Sarah Borien, Network Rail Southern Region’s Head of Environment and Sustainability, said: “Generating our own renewable energy through solar panels is a key part of our sustainability plan for Network Rail’s Southern Region, so we’re delighted that GTR shares our ambition and that we can work together to make our railway even cleaner and greener than it already is.”
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