The Hollywood Reporter (Weekly)
A ‘Solid Step’ Toward More Sustainable TV Sets
An NBC drama is reducing its carbon footprint by replacing diesel generators with hybrid energy
NBC’s La Brea, which revolves around a massive sinkhole opening in the middle of Los Angeles, is doing its part to ensure that world-ending disasters remain a fictional, onscreen occurrence.
The drama, now shooting its second season in Australia, is one of a few early film or TV productions to use a hybrid lithium-ion battery system to power its unit base. In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the production and make the industry more sustainable, production firm Red Fox Unit Services and energy company Aggreko worked together to trial two hybrid battery banks (manufactured by POWR2).
Though Hollywood has made significant sustainable changes in recent years, clean energy has remained the biggest problem, with battery generators not having been powerful enough to replace diesel and fuel entire sets. These two new batteries significantly reduce the use of diesel: After charging for about two hours using a diesel generator, they’re fully charged for 24 hours. In La Brea’s case, they power 30 working trucks at unit base, including convection ovens, air conditioners, tumble dryers, water heaters and water pumps. The alternative would be to run diesel-powered generators for that entire operation. “It’s a solid step in the right direction and creates a pathway for future productions all over the world,” notes Erin Underhill, president of Universal Television.
While battery generators have become more and more common on major productions — as studios see the value in investing in sustainability — these batteries represent a new hybrid technology that harnesses the power of diesel and multiples it in a clean form. But this tech is still not widely available. There are barriers in terms of price, crew training, sizing and the impact of cold weather. As the technology grows, though, it could be used by more large-scale projects to meet production needs. Adds Red Fox Unit Services’ Richie Young: “The real plus at the end of the day, however, is the huge saving in diesel fuel consumption and our reduction in CO2 emissions.”