One of the UK’s most important wholesale food markets is now home to the largest rooftop solar installation in London, following the completion of a major renewable energy project at New Spitalfields Market.

Managed by the City of London Corporation, New Spitalfields Market (in Walthamstow) is a nationally significant hub within the UK’s food supply chain, supplying fresh produce to businesses across London and beyond.

The installation by Vital Energi comprises 2,730 solar panels, creating a 1.4 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar array, the largest rooftop solar installation in London. The system is expected to generate around 1.27 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power approximately 470 homes.

Operating overnight and around the clock, the market has significant energy requirements to support refrigeration, lighting, and essential infrastructure. By generating more of its electricity on site, the market will reduce its reliance on grid power while improving its long-term operational resilience.

The project is expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 225 tonnes each year, equivalent to the electricity used by around 50 homes annually. 

The circa £1million investment forms part of the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which commits the organisation to achieving net zero across its own operations by 2027, while demonstrating how large-scale renewable energy can be integrated into critical commercial infrastructure.

Every unit of electricity generated and used on site is one that does not need to be drawn from the National Grid, helping free up capacity elsewhere while supporting the decarbonisation of one of London’s most energy-intensive market sites.

The solar array is the largest rooftop installation of its kind in London (by MWp) and represents one of the City Corporation’s most significant renewable energy investments to date, whilst also supporting the market’s continued operation as a key wholesale food hub.

Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

“Projects like this show how practical climate action can deliver benefits far beyond carbon reduction and are yet another example of the City Corporation delivering on its Climate Action Strategy.

“As the UK experiences periods of extreme heat and rising electricity demand for cooling, this project demonstrates the value of investing in local renewable energy generation.”

Chairman of the City of London Corporation Markets Board, Mark Wheatley, said:

"New Spitalfields Market is a vital part of London's fresh produce supply chain, serving businesses and communities across the capital every day. This investment helps ensure the market remains a modern, efficient and well-equipped facility, supporting traders and customers while strengthening its long-term future."