Liverpool has announced a major plan to build “plug in” zones around the city to reduce the film sector’s reliance on polluting generators.
The network of play and play facilities across filming and television sites, means companies can use mains power directly, rather than diesel generators.
“Initiatives such as this show the imagination and ingenuity that our creative sectors will be able to harness,” said Cllr Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Culture.
“These solutions will help the music, TV and film industries lower their carbon emissions without impacting on the quality or quantity of their fantastic work. These are incredibly important sectors for the City’s economy, so it’s vital we help their transition towards a net zero future.”
The announcement comes ahead of the official launch of Liverpool as the world’s first UN Accelerator City for Climate Action today.
As the most filmed location outside of London, Liverpool says that removing high polluting, temporary power on these productions would mark a “significant leap forward” in its ambition to decarbonise the creative sectors.
According to BAFTA Albert, 62% of UK film/tv productions used diesel generators for mobile power last year, with millions of litres of diesel being burned on locations and outdoor events each year.
Liverpool will be working with Ecotricity X Grid Faeries to explore the installation of power pillars, so production crews can plug directly into the grid.
“Millions of litres of diesel are burned every year just to power outdoor events in towns and cities across Britain, in low emissions zones in some cases and too often with the grid just spitting distance away. That’s madness in a world teetering on the brink of climate disaster, and something that can easily be changed – we’re pleased to be working with Liverpool City Council to try and change that,” stated Dale Vince, Green Industrialist and Founder of Ecotricity.
“Grid Faeries’ ‘plug and play’ feeder pillars are being offered to councils up and down the country, with the ambition to squeeze the last drops of fossil fuels from the power sector at live events. Our work with Liverpool aims to try and set the standard for powering outdoor events in the built environment – in a climate responsible fashion.”
Keir Powell-Lewis, BFI Head of Environmental Sustainability, added:
“Finding ways for film and television productions to access clean energy and eliminate diesel generators on set is a major priority for the industry. Recommendations from the BFI-funded Screen New Deal Transformation Plan emphasise the need to collaborate to deliver infrastructural solutions at scale. We are excited to be to be working with ITV Studios and Ecotricity to explore how this can be rolled out for productions, music events, festivals, and communities across the UK.”
