Therapia Lane, the home of London Trams’ fleet of CR4000 and Variobahn trams, has become Transport for London’s first depot to remove fossil gas usage following an upgrading of its heating system. This will improve energy efficiency and will also save money in the long-term.
The new heating system sees the elimination of fossil fuel gas and also features a mechanism that targets heat efficiently to where people are working at any given time.
As well as new heating system, more than 300 solar panels have been installed on the depot roof to generate 187kWp of clean energy on site which reduces a reliance on grid electricity and cuts carbon emissions.
The new heating and power system will prepare the site for the future and helps to ensure that operational sites play a role in reducing climate change impact. The heating system has been modernised with a range of low-carbon, electric heat pumps and infrared panel heaters, replacing the unsustainable fossil fuel gas boilers. The infrared panel heaters target areas where staff work most, minimising ambient heat loss and achieving higher energy performance compared to traditional central systems. The heating system upgrade has enhanced hot water delivery through the installation of energy-efficient, on-demand electric water heaters.
Whilst the new heating system does have additional electricity consumption it will be offset by 1,800m2 of solar panels on the roof of the depot, which will generate 187kWp of energy. Energy savings will come from energy efficiency measures including improved insulation and LED lighting, which also create a better, brighter, and more comfortable working environment for staff. The measures should cut carbon emissions by around 183 tC02e annually which will deliver significant long-term sustainability benefits alongside operational cost savings. The work undertaken at Therapia Lane will also help inform efforts to decarbonise other active operational buildings on TfL’s estates as well as other depots across the country.
Matt Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said: “It’s fantastic news that Therapia Lane depot has become TfL’s first depot to remove fossil fuel gas usage by upgrading its heating system and installing hundreds of new solar panels.
“This green transition will help improve energy efficiency and save money, showing that sites like this have an important role in reducing the impacts of climate change. The Mayor and I will continue to work with partners to ensure we can deliver a greener and fairer London for everyone.”
The project was part funded by the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme as well as the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund.