Bristol is set to launch a pioneering initiative in the summer of 2024, establishing the world’s first “clean power hub” designed specifically for festivals and film crews. This groundbreaking project aims to provide a sustainable energy source for events, significantly reducing reliance on fuel-driven generators, which have been known to adversely affect air quality and contribute to carbon emissions.
The initiative is the result of collaboration between the Bristol City Council and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. According to Tony Dyer, the leader of Bristol City Council, achieving a carbon-neutral city requires concerted efforts across all sectors, including culture. He stated, “This is a welcome approach to exploring how we can support the events sector to move away from the use of fuel-driven generators, in turn improving air quality and lowering emissions.”
Helen Godwin, the mayor of the West of England, echoed this sentiment, describing the initiative as an exciting development that merges clean energy with the creative industries. “People across the west love culture and love our environment. Clean energy and the creative industries are both key growth sectors for us over the coming decade,” she added.
This project builds on previous efforts, such as a festival organized by the trip-hop group Massive Attack, which utilized battery power last summer, setting a record for the lowest carbon emissions for a similar event. The clean power hub will expand on this concept by establishing two sites in Bristol where electricity from the National Grid, supplied by 100% renewable sources, will be stored.
The stored energy will be distributed through an array of batteries that can be deployed to various events and production crews. Mark Donne, the lead producer of Act 1.5, a collective of artists, technicians, and scientists involved in the project, emphasized the unprecedented scale of this undertaking. “It’s essentially providing clean mobile power for an entire event season – festivals, other cultural events, and film and television productions,” he explained.
More than 20 events are expected to utilize this sustainable energy source instead of traditional generators. Notable festivals, including Love Saves the Day, scheduled for May at the Ashton Court estate, and Forwards Bristol, set for August on the Downs, have expressed interest in participating. Donne noted that while some event organizers may initially be hesitant, they could be encouraged to adopt a hybrid model of both clean and conventional power.
This initiative also extends to film and television production companies that frequently operate in the region during the summer months. Donne reported that three large production companies have expressed strong interest in utilizing the clean power hub, highlighting a growing synergy between the creative sectors and environmental sustainability.
Experts from Tyndall Manchester, who specialize in climate action and sustainability research, will assess the environmental impact of the project. Donne remarked, “This is a clean-air strategy as well as a climate one, and a world-first for Bristol.” The anticipated benefits for both the environment and public health are expected to be significant, marking a noteworthy advancement in the pursuit of sustainable practices within the entertainment and cultural industries.
