Bedford depot's massive solar roof helps Thameslink on way to a carbon net zero future

• 932 solar panels form part of Govia Thameslink Railway’s carbon net zero strategy
• Money raised from sale of surplus electricity will help fund community projects

Work has begun installing one of Bedford’s biggest solar arrays – on the roof of Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR’s) train depot, in Cauldwell Walk.

Almost 1,000 photovoltaic panels (932) will generate 322 MWh of electricity a year – enough to power 120 homes every year, saving more than 66 tonnes of CO₂e. They form part of GTR’s commitment to become carbon ‘net zero’ for all its energy needs by 2050.

The solar roof – one of four at different depots across GTR’s vast 11 county network – is being installed by not-for-profit community climate action group Energy Garden.

When it comes online in the New Year, Energy Garden will sell half the solar electricity to GTR to power the depots and plough profits from selling what’s left over into community development projects – Energy Garden already works with more than 50 community groups.

Jason Brooker, Head of Environment at GTR, said: “We’re in the middle of a climate crisis and everyone has a job to do to minimise their carbon footprint.

“Our electric trains are already the most sustainable way to get around on public transport but as the UK’s largest operator, we want our customers to know that we’re committed to doing even more.

“This new solar roof at Bedford Cauldwell Walk Depot, along with a raft of other initiatives, will cut our carbon footprint still further in the short to medium term and in the long-term help eradicate it altogether.

“And it’s fabulous that it’s also going to help community projects.”

Agamemnon Otero, Founder and CEO of Energy Garden, said: “The partnership between GTR and Energy Garden has changed the UK railway for ever. Transport is the biggest single growing emissions sector in the UK. Energy Garden is a movement of people power who are supporting the decarbonisation of the rail.”

Bedford Cauldwell Walk is used for servicing and stabling Class 700 Thameslink trains and maintaining and stabling Class 360 EMR trains (by EMR technicians).

Ends

GTR’s carbon footprint is already very small: electric trains are the most sustainable form of public transport and are used on more than 97% of GTR’s services. Most trains also regenerate energy when they brake and all the electricity supplied by Network Rail to power them already comes from a clean source.

GTR's Net Zero Strategy aims to eradicate that carbon footprint altogether by:

• working with Network Rail and government to replace what few diesel trains are in use, possibly by electrifying the last two sections of Southern Rail track or introducing battery-powered units
• replacing gas with air or ground source heat pumps or equivalent as a source of heating at train depots
• generating energy from more than 6,000 solar panels being installed on the rooftops of train stations and depots in Bedford, London and Sussex
• changing air conditioning systems to limit the damaging impact caused by any loss of refrigerant into the atmosphere
• replacing fossil fuel equipment with zero carbon systems when it needs replacing, if not sooner
• continuing to source certified renewable electricity for its offices, depots and stations
• installing smart meters

Energy Garden

• Energy Garden has already installed a solar roof at GTR’s Streatham Hill train depot in south London. Three more are planned at Bedford Cauldwell Walk, Selhurst Depot in Croydon, and Three Bridges Depot in Sussex
• Approximately 50 per cent of the electricity generated from the solar roofs will be sold directly to GTR to power the depots. Energy Garden will export the remainder to other businesses keen to improve their community and sustainability credentials.
• As a not-for-profit organisation, Energy Garden will then invest surplus income over and above the project costs into local community development. www.energygarden.org.uk

• Electricity generated by Bedford photovoltaic roof based on a 2-3 bedroom house with 2-3 people using 2,700kWh a year www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/average-gas-and-electricity-use-explained saving 66,677kg CO₂e www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2023