The Anonymous Widower

Solar Farms Could Partly Power London Underground

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

Transport for London (TfL) is planning to set up solar farms to help power its Underground network.

These three introductory paragraphs give more details.

The transport body has asked for potential “delivery partners” to apply to provide up to 64 megawatts of zero-carbon electricity from purpose-built solar farms.

This would be about 5% of the power needed to run the Tube and would bypass the National Grid, according to TfL.

It says it is the largest single electricity consumer in London – at a level equivalent to that consumed by about 420,000 homes – and the project would reduce pressure on the central grids.

These are my thoughts.

Solar Panels At Cockfosters

This Google Map shows Cockfosters Depot and the surrounding land.

Note.

1. The London Underground roundel in the North-West corner of the map indicates Cockfosters station.
2. The London Underground roundel in the South-East corner of the map indicates Oakwood station.
3. Between the two stations lies the large Cockfosters Train Depot, which is one of the major depots for the Piccadilly Line.
4. To the North of the railway is Trent Park, which in its Wikipedia entry is described as a country house in North London.

I know the area well, as I used to live opposite Southgate School, which is towards the bottom of the map, until I was sixteen.

I believe that solar panels could be installed in three places.

• As a solar roof over a rebuilt depot.
• As a solar farm on some of the Trent Park land.
• In Would A Solar Roof With Added Vertical Turbines Work?, I suggested a hybrid installation on top of Oakwood station.

As it is a very windy hill-top, I would look into the possibility of perhaps four large wind turbines between the tracks of the depot.

It is definitely an area, where there are possibilities for renewable power.

But given that the Nimbies are objecting to the building of housing on the car-parks at Cockfosters and Oakwood stations, I suspect they will object.

Solar Roofs Above Depots And Sidings

In the previous sub-section, I suggested what was possible at Cockfosters, by installing a solar roof above Cockfosters Train Depot

These Google Maps show a number of other depots, that have possibilities for solar roofs.

Ealing Common

Edgware

Golders Green

Hainault

Hammersmith

Morden

Neasden

Northfields

Northumberland Park

 

Old Oak Common

Ruislip

Stonebridge Park

Stratford Market

Upminster

All these depots are different, but I do feel there is scope for solar roofs and panels above the sidings.

Other developments like housing may also be possible over some of the depots.

 

 

 

 

November 6, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Transport/Travel | Cockfosters Station, Cockfosters Train Depot, Oakwood Station, Solar Power