Film London has officially launched the Grid Project, a pilot programme to supply renewable energy to productions in the capital.
Led by Film London, the Grid Project introduces the supply of green energy via the mains network, installing an electrical feeder pillar at a key unit base in Victoria Park, London.
When filming on location, productions usually plug into diesel or petrol generators at unit bases for energy supply. Analysis completed by ARUP for Victoria Park estimated that during 2018, production generators consumed 64,082 litres of diesel and 1,656 litres of petrol.
According to Film London, the installation of electrical feeder pillars that productions can plug into will reduce CO2 emissions and air pollutants from particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide by 100% at point of use, as well as significantly reducing noise pollution. The power cabinets are also available for use during events held in the park, reducing diesel generator usage from other industries.
Read more A Broadcast Green Revolution: Sustainability and the Road to Net Zero
Funding for the Grid Project has come from the London Mayor’s Good Growth Fund supported through the London Economic Action Partnership; NBCUniversal; Interreg Europe’s Green Screen and the British Film Commission.
The Victoria Park pilot has been co-delivered with Tower Hamlets Council and The Film Office, engineering consultant ARUP, UKPN, contractor Ingenious Power and bespoke power distribution pillar specialist Lucy Zodion. 100% renewable energy will be supplied by Ecotricity.
Attendees at the launch in Victoria Park, London, included Rob Huber, MD UK & Ireland, Universal Pictures International; Shirley Rodrigues, London’s deputy mayor for environment and energy; Andy Harries, CEO and co-founder of Left Bank Pictures, and Adrian Wootton CEO of Film London.
Wootton said: “I am thrilled to launch the Grid Project today in Victoria Park. This is an innovative project in the UK, which we hope creates a template for future developments. We are fully committed to making our screen industries as sustainable as possible, and initiatives like the Grid Project are a brilliant way of guaranteeing lower levels of emissions and noise pollution.”
Huber said: “NBCUniversal’s film and TV productions work to reduce our environmental impact globally by integrating sustainable best practices working with our local partners. We’re grateful to Film London and our co-sponsors for spearheading the Grid Project and look forward to watching its positive impact across London.”
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