Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is seeking a long-term green energy agreement to power the Bee Network, supporting its goal of establishing the UK’s first carbon-neutral transport network.
The transition to electric buses and depots across the city region is currently advancing rapidly. In under two years, the Bee Network fleet has increased its share of electric vehicles from less than 1% to 25%. The ultimate goal is full electrification by 2030, significantly reducing emissions and improving air quality.
To support this shift, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is being pursued. This agreement would secure 100% renewable energy, sourced from a newly built solar or wind farm, to power the Metrolink tram network.
The model could also later be expanded to accommodate the energy demands of the growing electric bus fleet.
The proposed PPA, valued at approximately 57 million GBP over 15 years, would provide price stability while insulating the network from fluctuations in energy costs.
The initial agreement would cover 45,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity, equivalent to Metrolink’s annual consumption. As the bus fleet electrifies further, TfGM’s energy requirements are projected to rise from 58,000MWh in 2024 to around 214,000MWh by 2036, allowing for future PPAs to be established.
The PPA is expected to go live by 31 December 2027, ensuring:
- Price certainty to shield against market volatility
- Additional renewable energy capacity to boost the UK’s sustainable power generation
- Progress towards Greater Manchester’s Net Zero targets, supporting a fully decarbonised transport network by 2030
- Future-proofing the Bee Network, allowing for expansion of both bus and tram services
The investment-led strategy aligns with Greater Manchester’s broader Clean Air Plan. Following the completion of bus franchising, hundreds of greener, more accessible vehicles are already in operation.
This initiative now includes a 51.1 million GBP investment in 40 additional zero-emission buses, 77 Euro VI standard buses, and expanded charging infrastructure.
By March 2025, over half (52%) of Bee Network buses will be newly acquired, and 75% of the fleet will be less than four years old—significantly younger than the 9.5-year average in 2019.
Since bus franchising launched in September 2023, efforts to electrify depots have also accelerated. Bolton and Oldham depots have already undergone partial electrification, with further upgrades planned at Bolton, Middleton, Ashton, and Hyde depots over the next year.
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.
