Film London launches the Grid Project, supplying renewable energy to productions

Film London have 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 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.

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, Chief Executive and co-founder of Left Bank Pictures, and Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive, Film London.

Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said:  “I am thrilled to launch the Grid Project today in Victoria Park. This is a never before done and 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.

"We are very proud to have led on the project, and I hope that the initiative can encourage new projects to enact similar sustainable solutions throughout London and the UK. Working together to address environmental challenges is crucial, and I would like to thank all our partners at NBCUniversal, the GLA and Interreg Europe who have been so valuable in supporting the launch of the project."

Rob Huber, MD UK & Ireland, Universal Pictures International, a division of NBCUniversal, added: “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.”