28/03/2022 - Announced on Thursday 24 March, the agency’s initiative promises to supply renewable energy to productions in the capital, with the effect of reducing CO2 and NO2 emissions as well as noise pollution

Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission

On Thursday 24 March, Film London, the British capital’s screen industries agency, announced the commissioning of the Grid Project, a pilot supplying renewable energy to productions in the capital that will reduce emissions as well as noise pollution. Construction has begun at Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, the official press release discloses.

Spearheaded by Film London, the Grid Project will pilot the supply of green energy via the mains network, installing an electrical feeder pillar at this key unit base in London.

Prominent film, environment and policy stakeholders have already pledged their support, with funding from the Mayor’s Good Growth Fund through the London Economic Action Partnership, NBCUniversal, Interreg Europe’s Green Screen and the British Film Commission.

The Victoria Park pilot will be co-delivered with Tower Hamlets Council and The Film Office, appointed engineering consultant ARUP, UKPN, appointed contractor Ingenious Power and bespoke power distribution pillar specialist Lucy Zodion. Moreover, the totality of the renewable energy will be supplied by SSE (Scottish Southern Energy).

In detail, the analysis completed by ARUP for Victoria Park estimated that in 2018, “production generators consumed 64,082 litres of diesel and 1,656 litres of petrol,” whilst “the estimated CO2 emitted by the generators was 169,556kg.”

The installation of electrical feeder pillars that productions can plug into instead would reduce CO2 emissions by 100% and bring PM (particulate matter) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) emissions to zero from film and TV productions at point of use, as well as significantly reduce noise pollution. Furthermore, the cabinets will also be available for use during events, reducing diesel generator usage from other industries.

Commenting on the initiative, Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “With demand for content higher than ever and the sheer popularity of London as a filming destination, our industry faces a growing imperative to be more sustainable. Innovations such as the Grid Project will reduce emissions and noise pollution whilst continuing to make world-class content on location. Film London is extremely proud to be leading this project, and I hope its development inspires other councils and unit base sites across London and beyond to follow suit.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Shirley Rodrigues added: “Whilst the Mayor of London has made huge strides in cleaning up the capital’s toxic air, there is still more to do. It’s vital we tackle air pollution from all sources. The Grid Project, supported by the Mayor’s Good Growth Fund, will pilot electricity from 100 per cent renewable sources at some of London’s key film locations, eliminating the use of toxic diesel generators and helping to tackle climate change and reduce pollution exposure for the parks’ visitors. We are delighted to be enabling such an innovative and important project.”

The Grid Project is supported by the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund and receives EU funding from Interreg Europe under the European Regional Development Fund, and NBC Universal.

For further information, you can check out Film London’s website.