Ian Peniston , Power Logistics Mark Irving , PlusZero wherever possible .”
This summer also saw Live Nation Entertainment-owned Festival Republic partner with environmental pressure group Music Declares Emergency to present fully renewably powered , grid-connected stages at three of its events for the 2023 festival season . Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn described the project as a “ game changer ” for outdoor live events .
Costing the earth At a time of soaring inflation , the issue of cost is a key consideration when considering green power . Pearce says one of the simplest ways to get every event organiser on board would be to make the cost of HVO fuel 20p per litre cheaper than standard diesel . Currently it is around 20p per litre more expensive : “ I cannot think of a single event organiser who would not change to HVO overnight with the knowledge that they could save money on fuel ,” he says . “ While savings can be made in the reductions of fuel , consumed green technology tends to be more expensive to use .”
For instance , Pearce says three 100kVA [ kilo-volt-amperes ] generators in “ farm mode ” will cost more than one 300kVA generator . “ All battery systems tend to cost three to four times more than an equivalent sized generator ,” he says .
Tim Benson , founder and production director at SMART Power
Shaun Pearce , Pearce Hire
and chair and founder of not-for-profit “ think-do tank ” Powerful Thinking , spoke to Access while on site at Wembley Stadium for Coldplay ’ s tour . The tour ’ s Energy Zone allows energy from fans to be converted via kinetic dancefloors and pedal bikes into power .
Benson says issues with cost makes the case for using batteries even stronger : “ If you put a battery system in line with your generator to manage the overnight base loads , you could be saving 50 % renewal average fuel consumption per day . You can then monetise that fuel saving , which covers the cost of the hire of the battery system .”
Benson adds that while many event organisers are focused on running on HVO , which is lower in carbon than diesel , many people do not look beyond the initial problem of oversizing their generators .
“ We want people to address power advancing as a crucial part of the festival and outdoor management process , because with proper power advancing information you can match your generator sizes to your actual demand .”
Leading the charge Benson says to drive real change , event organisers need to be urged to use mains supplies , which can be bolstered with batteries . He says organisers are reluctant to rely on these as they feel there could be a power outage : “ If you have a battery system that fits in between the main supply and the load , the battery system acts as a UPS ( uninterrupted power supply ) in the event that the mains goes down . So that argument is instantly made redundant .
“ Even if it ’ s not a green mains tariff from a recognised green energy provider , the emissions per kilowatt hour for mains supplies are way below that of HVO .”
However , Benson says the current timeline for having mains supplies installed is too long , often up to two years , which he believes needs to be addressed by lobbying parliament .
“ Event organisers that use the same site are willing to club together to pay for the installation of mains supplies because they will share it for their different events . There ’ s an appetite for it , but they ’ re put off by the fact that it takes too long and it ’ s too complicated . That ’ s a crucial thing that needs to be addressed .”
Pearce says there is no shortage of possibilities when it comes to reducing the environmental impact of power supply to events but the manufacture of bespoke equipment , along with the R & D involved , is expensive . He suggests the Government help more with green subsidies : “ We are very visible and we are seen by lots of people , so we need to be seen to be leading the way with green initiatives . When you compare us to some other industries , I think we are .”
Peniston says the industry is beyond the point where increased sustainability is an option : “ Climate change is very real , and we must reduce the carbon footprint of our events . We can make a real difference to emissions .”
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