On 13 June, Film London officially launched the Grid Project, a pilot programme supplying renewable energy to productions shooting in the British capital, set to reduce air pollution, CO₂ emissions and noise pollution (see last year’s news).

Led by Film London, the Grid Project will introduce 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 initiative, 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. Moreover, 100% renewable energy will be supplied by Ecotricity.

The official press release explains: “When filming on location, productions usually plug into diesel or petrol generators at unit bases for energy supply.” In particular, “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”, while “the estimated CO₂ emitted by the generators was 169,556 kg” and “the estimated annual particulate matter (based on 0.03g/kWh) was 7.43 kg”.

The Grid Project comes to the rescue through “the installation of electrical feeder pillars that productions can plug into”, which “will reduce CO₂ emissions and air pollutants from particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide by 100% at point of use” and “will significantly reduce noise pollution”.

The power cabinets will also be available for use during events held in the park, reducing diesel generator usage from other industries. The Grid Project 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 Zero. In detail, the report provides practical information 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 event 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 of Film London and the British Film Commission.

Wootton was thrilled to launch the pilot: “This is a never-before-done and innovative project in the UK, which we hope will create 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.”

Meanwhile, Rodrigues commented: “The Grid Project is an innovative new pilot that will help reduce air and noise pollution in a new way, ensuring the film industry has access to green, sustainable energy and reducing the carbon footprint left by productions. It will make a big difference to people visiting Victoria Park and will help pave the way for other projects to follow suit. I’m delighted to support Film London in leading the way on greening Britain’s film industry.”

Finally, Huber 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.”