Written by Kianna Best on Nov 1, 2022. Posted in Production News

Film London has launched The Fuel Project

The Fuel Project, a report funded by Interreg Europe’s Green Screen has been launched today by Film London in partnership with their sustainable business consultants Creative Zero. The report provides practical information on how those in the film and television industry can reduce their CO2  emissions.

Daniela Kirchner, Chief Operating Officer of Film London and the British Film Commission and Lead Partner of Green Screen, said: ‘’The global growth in film and TV production, while exciting, will have significant impacts on our climate unless meaningful action is taken to reduce emissions. As 50% of a production’s carbon footprint comes from fuel use in transport and power services, we felt this was where the greatest impact could be made. So we are delighted to be publishing the Fuel Project report, to give suppliers of every size in the production supply chain the resources, information and timings needed to help our sector’s transition to low carbon fuel and contribution to tackling the climate crisis.”

Image courtesy of Samantha Borges of Unsplash

The aim of The Fuel Project is to offer solutions for the high level of pollutants and carbon that are emitted during the production process. Currently, only 12.5% of film and television productions make use of low carbon power generators complying with the highest emissions standard. The project encourages the increased use of these along with suggesting energy consumption substitutes such as battery power as well as hydrogen and Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) sources.

“We welcome the release of the Fuel Project Supplier Guidance Report,” commented Steve Knight, Managing Director of Pixipixel, a London-based rental house supplying camera and lightning equipment to television, film and commercial productions. “This extensive research is a steppingstone for our industry, providing key insights and valuable guidance for moving towards a more sustainable future. At Pixipixel, we’ve recognised that fuel consumption is our biggest greenhouse gas contributor and switched to HVO fuel for our transport and generators. With the release of the report, our hope is for more suppliers to follow our lead, and collaborate on future projects.’’

Image courtesy of Film London

Acknowledging the need for ongoing and collaborative effort to be made in order to invoke any realy change, the project’s focus revolves around finding bespoke solutions that can be taken on by everyone in order to tackle the challenge of reducing harmful emissions on production sets, and making those changes attainable in the long run.

Taking on board thoughts from suppliers, production companies, vehicle experts, low carbon energy specialists, environmental consultants, sustainable business strategists, energy equipment manufacturers, film commissions and film agencies, the initiative is taking into account the many needs of those in the industry and how they will be individually affected by the changes that need to be made.