The contract will mean 49.9MW of renewable energy capacity is available – and will cover around 15% of Network Rail’s annual consumption of non-traction energy –provided from EDF Renewables UK’s Bloy’s Grove solar farm between Swainsthorpe and Mulbarton in Norfolk, which received planning consent in June this year.
"Rail is already in a strong position in terms of its green credentials, but it’s crucial that we do everything we can as a business to improve air quality, minimise our use of fossil fuels, and transition to an industry powered by green, renewable, low-carbon energy," said Jo Lewington, chief environment and sustainability officer for Network Rail.
This agreement forms part of Network Rail's Environmental Sustainability Strategy, which sets out four key deliverables in the soutcing of 100 percent non-traction energy form renewable sources by 2030: low-emission railway, reliable service, improved biodiversity, sustainable material usage.
EDF is also offering a £20,000 (US$23,600) annual community benefit fund which starts when the site is operational. This monetary commitment to the local community is supported by the building and maintenance of a community orchard. Network Rail and EDF say this is in order to make improvements to the site's biodiversity.
“This also demonstrates our ability to develop competitive and affordable renewable power projects in the UK as well as underpinning the importance of all renewable technologies in de-carbonising the UK electricity system to reach the country’s net zero targets by 2050," said Matthieu Hue, CEO of EDF Renewables UK.