Film London today (13 June) officially launched the Grid Project, a pilot supplying renewable energy to productions in the capital that will reduce air pollution, CO2 emissions, and noise pollution.
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. Industry leaders across film, environment and policy have supported the pilot, with funding from the 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.
When filming on location, productions usually plug into diesel or petrol generators at unit bases for energy supply. Detailed 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. The estimated CO2 emitted by the generators was 169,556kg. The Estimated annual particulate matter (based on 0.03g/kWh) was 7.43kg. Estimated annual Nitrous Oxide produced from diesel and petrol was 2,393 kg.
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.
As part of the industry’s efforts to reduce emissions, this follows the launch of The Fuel Project, a report funded by Interreg Europe’s Green Screen and delivered by Film London, in partnership with creative business consultants Creative Zero. The report provides practical information, steps and support to film and TV production suppliers as they make the move toward new, low carbon technologies, helping drive down emissions in the industry as a whole. More information about the launch can be found here.
