Music festivals embrace eco-friendly energy solutions

Music festivals embrace eco-friendly energy solutions

Music festivals are increasingly turning to sustainable energy sources, a move that's both challenging and costly.

Suzanne Bearne reports for the BBC.


In short:

  • Festivals like Glastonbury and Shambala are pioneering the use of renewable energy sources, including wind turbines and solar panels, to power their events.
  • Significant investments are being made in connecting festivals to the national grid and using sustainably sourced hydrogenated vegetable oil for power.
  • Efforts are also focused on reducing energy demand, with initiatives like energy tariffs for traders and promoting sustainable transport options for attendees.

Key quote:

"Audiences are increasingly expecting their festivals to take action. The primary driver of ticket sales is still where your friends go, and also the line-up. But audiences are expecting their festivals to be sustainable, so I think there's increasingly a business case for being a more sustainable business."

— Chris Johnson, co-founder of Shambala Festival

Why this matters:

The shift toward sustainable energy in music festivals reflects a growing public demand for environmentally responsible practices and showcases the potential for large-scale events to operate sustainably, impacting both public perception and environmental health.

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