Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential renewable power generation capacity of Network Rail’s estate.

In May 2020 Network Rail carried out a survey and analysis of its land estate to assess the potential suitability for renewable energy generation. It was determined that there is potential capacity of 188 MWp across 34 potential sites.

Network Rail purchases electricity for the railway and is committed to transitioning to renewable energy for both the electricity it uses for its own operations, and the electricity to power trains. Network Rail already generates some of this electricity on the rail estate and is continuing the roll out of new renewable energy generation assets on the estate.

The government is committed to establishing Great British Energy and significantly increasing the amount of renewable energy generation in the UK by 2030.