Greater Manchester is making significant strides towards its goal of establishing the UK’s first carbon-neutral public transport system. Following recent government approval for investment in cleaner air, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is pursuing a long-term deal to power the Bee Network with 100% renewable energy.
TfGM plans to secure a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) – a long-term contract with an energy generator to buy electricity at a fixed price. This approach will reduce operating costs and provide protection against energy price fluctuations.
The estimated £57 million, 15-year tender will provide enough renewable energy to cover Metrolink’s current annual demand. The model could be replicated as Greater Manchester’s bus network becomes increasingly electrified, with projected energy use nearly quadrupling.
Hundreds of new, greener, and more accessible buses are already operating in Greater Manchester following the completion of bus franchising earlier this month. This fleet will be further enhanced by the Clean Air Plan, which includes a £51.1 million investment in 40 zero-emission buses, 77 Euro VI standard buses, and charging infrastructure.
By the end of March 2025, over half (52%) of Bee Network buses will be new, and 75% will be less than four years old (compared to an average fleet age of 9.5 years in 2019). The proportion of electric buses is also rapidly increasing, from less than 1% before franchising to 25% by summer.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The Bee Network is the key to unlocking a new green revolution across Greater Manchester. With cleaner, more reliable public transport we can cut carbon emissions, improve services for passengers and clear up the air throughout our city-region.
“We’re making rapid progress to electrify our bus fleet and our depots, and are on track to have a full electric network by 2030. Locking in a long-term, stable supply of renewable energy will help us meet that goal, delivering new net-zero infrastructure and driving down emissions across the network.”
The PPA will:
- Provide price certainty, mitigating market volatility.
- Increase renewable energy capacity on the UK national grid.
- Support Greater Manchester’s Net Zero ambitions for a fully decarbonised transport network by 2030.
- Accommodate Bee Network expansion and future Metrolink development.
The initial PPA will cover 45,000 megawatt-hours of energy, equivalent to Metrolink’s annual electricity consumption. As more electric buses enter service, TfGM’s energy demand is projected to increase from 58,000 MWh in 2024 to around 214,000 MWh by 2036, creating opportunities for future PPAs.
The PPA is expected to go live by 31st December 2027*. The formal tender was released to interested parties on Monday 3rd February and can be accessed here.
*The go live date is based on the requirement for a renewable energy facility to be built, though an earlier commencement date will be ought if such developments are already available.
Since the launch of bus franchising in September 2023, work to electrify bus depots has moved at pace with Bolton and Oldham having been partly electrified. Further upgrades are being made at Bolton, Middleton, Ashton, and Hyde depots in the next 12 months
