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Clean power hub for 2026 events is ‘world first for Bristol’
A new mobile battery hub will guarantee Bristol’s summer events in 2026 are powered by renewable energy.
Use of the hub will mean events ranging from music festivals to high attendance events such as Harbour Festival as well as film and TV productions will no longer need to rely on diesel generators which create local air pollution and climate-damaging emissions.
It could result in the effective decarbonization of more than 20 cultural events during the pilot period of May to September 2026 said Mark Donne, lead producer of August 2024’s Act 1.5 event on the Downs, describing the initiative as “a major step of unprecedented scale”.
“This is a clean air strategy as well as a climate one,” he added, “and another world first for Bristol.”
Staged on the Downs at the end of last summer, Act 1.5 broke world records for lowest emissions produced by an event of its scale. It also marked 25 years of climate activism by Massive Attack – photo: Andre Pattenden
The brainchild of Massive Attack, the Act 1.5 concert put into practice the roadmap to decarbonization for the live music industry that the band developed in collaboration with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
It reportedly broke world records as the lowest carbon event of its scale ever staged.
The show was 100 per cent battery powered and served only plant-based food, as well as efforts to enable reduced-carbon travel options for attendees and planting of a new woodland.
Now the band’s wish for the show to be used as a template by other event producers is being fulfilled.
The clean power hub is the result of a partnership between Act 1.5 and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA), Bristol City Council and clean power providers including Grid Faeries and Ecotricity which helped to power the Act 1.5 show.
The Grid Faeries x Ecotricity partnership helped to power Act 1.5 and is now collaborating on the new Bristol-based mobile renewable power initiative – photo: @darrencphotography
As well as battery power the initiative will also trial green-hydrogen power solutions, already used to power a festival stage at Bristol-born Boomtown Fair as well as at the Isle of Wight and Latitude festivals. The fuel generates electricity with water the only byproduct.
“Green hydrogen and battery technologies play a vital role where direct electrification isn’t possible, reaching locations the grid can’t and providing long-duration, reliable power at the scale required to deliver these events,” explained Andrew Cunningham, CEO of project partner GeoPura.
“Meeting our goal of becoming a carbon neutral city requires all sections of our economy to take action to reduce emissions and move to more sustainable practices,” said Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council.
“We are adopting innovative solutions to accelerate our progress towards net zero. This trial 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.”
The council says plans also include renewable power installation at the Amphitheatre, which hosts regular live music and other events over the summer, and possibly eight other venues – photo: Rob Browne
Dyer also confirmed the council is investing in renewable power at Lloyds Amphitheatre – with work due to take place in 2026 in time for events in 2027 – and is exploring options to decarbonise the energy provision for eight further venues across the city.
Main photo: @darrencphotography
Read next:
- ‘Felton Common needs saving from yet another Bristol Airport land-grab’
- Hospital under investigation after trees felled in protected area
- Review: Massive Attack, the Downs – ‘A pivotal climate forward event’
- Is a climate-friendly future for live music possible?
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