Cost of going green hampering UK festivals’ move away from fossil fuels, new report says

Festivals in the UK are being hindered in their efforts to go green by “substantial investment requirements” and “supply chain limitations,” according to a new report.

The Low Emission Festival Project Report surveyed 26 UK festival organisers across England, Scotland and Wales, ranging from small community events to large-scale festivals.

It also surveyed nine energy contractors working at the events.

While it found there was widespread interest among festival organisers in renewable alternatives to traditional energy sources such as diesel-powered generators, many festivals reported they couldn’t afford the upfront costs associated with greener alternatives, such as solar power and battery storage systems.

Logistical barriers are also hampering attempts to move away from fossil fuels, in particular the use of biofuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel.

The report found that while both rural and urban festivals showed a similar use of generators for electricity, survey responses highlighted that rural festivals are still primarily reliant on diesel. 

Most urban events, however, have either “greatly increased” their use of HVO or fully switched to this biofuel.

This, the report states, “may suggest that the current supply chains for HVO are concentrated within urban hubs, or that HVO remains unaffordable for smaller events (which constituted the majority of the surveyed rural events)”.

Mix of strategies

Despite the financial and supply chain barriers, the desire to explore new approaches to energy use was strong among festival organisers.

Nearly 70% of respondents indicated that they were either “actively planning or working towards” reducing energy consumption. 

These efforts included a mix of strategies, such as transitioning from generators to grid power, utilising renewable options like solar and battery systems, and incorporating more biofuels.

Some festivals have also explored advanced technologies, such as vehicle-to-grid systems, which allow vehicles to both draw from and send to the grid.

Out of the 26 festivals surveyed, 21 reported that exploring alternative energy options had resulted in a reduction in fuel consumption.

Engaging with energy contractors

Collaborating with energy contractors early on in the planning stages of a festival was identified as an important way to save money on energy and reduce the event’s carbon footprint.

However, out of the 26 organisations surveyed, only 14 indicated that they speak with energy contractors during the site planning and design stage of the festival.

Ten of the organisations surveyed said they only engage with power contractors once their energy or power needs are determined, rather than before.

Energy providers that reported the most improvements in energy consumption were those who had a longstanding relationship with a festival, allowing them to collect accurate data, or were contracted early in the festival’s design stage.

The report said that collaborating with contractors “can provide opportunities for thorough analysis and information gathering”, which can reduce energy use.

The aim of the Low Emissions Festival project is to enhance the understanding of current energy management practices, trends, and opportunities available to festivals. 

The report states that key to this is communication with event organisers and energy contractors to identify obstacles “which may result from planning, speccing, and communication practices”.

The report concludes: “By strengthening collaboration, adopting data-driven approaches, and sharing risks and responsibilities with power providers, the festival industry can significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels while improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.”