Written by Kianna Best on Jun 14, 2023. Posted in General Interest

Film London launches The Grid Project

Film London announced the launch of The Grid Project, their initiative to supply renewable energy to productions in the Capital. The pilot, located at a key unit base in Victoria Park, was funded by the mayor’s Good growth Fund supported through the London Economic Action partnership, NBCUniversal, Interreg Europe’s Green Screen and the British Film Commission.

“I am thrilled to launch the Grid Project today in Victoria Park,” commented  Adrian Wootton OBE, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission. “This is a never before done and innovative project in the UK, which we hope creates a template for future developments. We are fully committed to making our screen industries as sustainable as possible, and initiatives like the Grid Project are a brilliant way of guaranteeing lower levels of emissions and noise pollution.

On a sunny day in Victoria Park, Universal Pictures International managing director for UK and Ireland Rob Huber, London deputy mayor for environment and energy Shirley Rodrigues, Left Bank Pictures’ chief executive and co-founder, and Film London chief executive Adrian Wooton OBE came together for the launch of Film London’s launch of The Grid Project. With a concern for the environmental impact of on location filming, this recent initiative follows on the heels of Film London’s The Fuel Project, a report, funded by Interreg Europe’s Green Screen and in partnership with Creative Zero, provided practical information on how to move towards a more carbon neutral position in the industry.

Reducing CO2 emissions and air pollutants that are generated from on location filming, The Grid Project utilises feeder pillars to supply green energy. The pilot has been located in Victoria Park. This effort aims to rectify the environmental impact of on location filming, which from a study conducted by ARUP for Victoria Park alone estimated that during 2018, 64,082 litres of diesel and 1,656 litres of petrol were consumed by production generators. This resulted in approximately 169,556 kg of CO2 emissions from the generators.

“The Grid Project is an innovative new pilot that will help reduce air and noise pollution in a new way, ensuring the film industry has access to green, sustainable energy and reducing the carbon footprint left by productions,”  Shirley Rodrigues, deputy mayor for environment and energy stated. “It will make a big difference to people visiting Victoria Park, and will help pave the way for other projects to follow suit. I’m delighted to support Film London in leading the way on greening Britain’s film industry.”

Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “As a designated Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), this project expresses our commitment to improving the quality of air for residents and visitors through the installation of renewable energy technology. I am pleased that our award-winning Victoria Park is piloting the project which will reduce the carbon emissions of filming.”

With a series of funding partners, the Victoria Park Pilot will be co-delivered by Tower Hamlets Council and The Film Office, engineering consultant ARUP, UKPN, contractor Ingenious Power, and bespoke power distribution pillar specialist Lucy Zodion. The 100% renewable energy will be supplied by Ecotricity.

Images courtesy of Film London