The UK film and television industry has a dirty secret hiding in plain sight on every production set: diesel generators. In 2024 alone, UK productions burned over three million litres of fossil fuels in generators during 2024, with more than half of all productions relying almost entirely on diesel power according to BAFTA albert’s SPARK report.
Recent coverage in The Times highlighted how major productions like the Wicked films, which themselves generated £5.6 billion UK production spend in 2024, created emissions equivalent to running 5,019 cars for a year, 13 times higher than comparable UK productions.
For an industry increasingly subject to sustainability requirements from broadcasters and studios, this reliance on fossil-fuel generators represents both a challenge and a substantial commercial opportunity. The question is no longer whether the film industry will transition away from diesel, but how quickly, and with what technology.
The hidden carbon cost of screen production
Film and television production requires substantial temporary power infrastructure. Location shoots, overnight filming, and modern equipment demands have made diesel generators the default solution.
Yet this convenience comes at considerable cost. Beyond carbon emissions, diesel generators produce noise that disrupts filming, require constant refuelling logistics, environmental risks from spills and expose productions to volatile fuel pricing. Productions face increasing scrutiny from commissioning bodies requiring sustainability credentials.
The BAFTA albert SPARK initiative, aiming to transition UK screen industries to clean temporary power by 2030, reflects growing recognition that business-as-usual is no longer tenable. Major broadcasters have committed to ambitious decarbonisation targets, whilst streaming platforms increasingly demand environmental impact reporting.
Mobile battery storage
Modern lithium-ion battery systems can now deliver the sustained output and energy capacity required for professional film production, whilst offering operational advantages extending beyond environmental benefits.
Allye Energy’s mobile battery energy storage systems exemplify this maturity and the circular economy. By repurposing electric vehicle battery packs from prematurely written off cars, giving them productive second lives after automotive service, these AI-powered systems provide reliable mobile power infrastructure capable of supporting everything from lighting rigs to catering facilities without combustion engines.
The advantages are compelling. Battery systems operate silently, eliminating generator noise that interrupts filming. They provide stable power without voltage fluctuations. Productions avoid the complexity of storing, transporting and handling diesel fuel, whilst benefiting from predictable operating costs immune to fuel price volatility.
Repurposed EV batteries retain 70-80% of original capacity, more than adequate for stationary storage, maximising the productive lifespan of already-manufactured batteries whilst providing cost-effective energy storage and cutting waste.
AI-powered energy management optimises battery performance for production workflows, learning power consumption patterns, predicting energy requirements, and managing charge cycles to ensure reliable availability.
The 2030 target: Ambitious but achievable
The SPARK initiative’s 2030 goal represents an ambitious target, yet the combination of proven technology, growing adoption, and clear policy direction suggests it’s achievable.
Commercial providers like Allye Energy are scaling deployment capabilities. Industry bodies and major broadcasters have committed to supporting the transition. Crucially, the operational advantages mean productions adopt battery systems for practical reasons beyond pure environmental considerations.
Challenges remain, however. Crews must adapt workflows, infrastructure requires development, some locations may need hybrid solutions, but these represent implementation challenges rather than fundamental barriers.
Action
Britain’s film and television industry stands at an inflection point. The technology exists to eliminate diesel dependence. The commercial models are proven. What’s required now is collective commitment to accelerating deployment.
Productions should evaluate mobile battery storage for upcoming shoots. Broadcasters must ensure sustainability requirements include expectations around temporary power sources. Industry training programmes need to equip crews with knowledge to operate battery systems effectively.
The 2030 target represents a practical roadmap for transforming production infrastructure whilst improving operational efficiency. Mobile battery storage offers both creative and practical advantages, wrapped in an environmental imperative the industry can no longer ignore.
Three million litres of diesel in 2024. The goal must be zero by 2030. The technology exists today, delivering reliable power whilst the cameras roll, without the noise, emissions, or compromises of diesel generators. For an industry built on storytelling, Britain’s film and television sector can lead the global transition to clean production power, proving that environmental responsibility and creative excellence strengthen each other.
Allye Energy – Jonathan Carrier
Author: Jonathan Carrier, founder and CEO Allye Energy
For more stories, click here.
