Reliable and Efficient Power Solutions for Music Festivals.

A music festival cannot operate without a sufficient and reliable power source which forms a key part of any festival site infrastructure. What do organisers need to consider when planning for the most efficient and reliable music festival power solution that also meets sustainability requirements.

The costs of modern reliable power solutions have increased significantly in recent years and can now account for up to 20% of total operating costs. Rising electricity generation and fuel costs are the main causes of recent increases, making it imperative that power source selection prioritises efficiency and reliability. Sustainability initiatives and carbon reporting mandates have also impacted costs. Organisers should now focus on ways to improve electricity management on their temporary festival site.

Power Needs.
A large music festival (50,000 festival-goers) will typically need a capacity of up to 3.5 Megawatts (MW). Traditionally this power has been fed by diesel generators, but this is rapidly changing to Smart Micro-Grids with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mandates. Modern day festivals now use hybrid solutions where use of BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) are combined with green fuel generators to help smooth out power consumption spikes. Festivals use an array of power-hungry equipment that can include amplification, lighting systems and video streaming that can create power demand surges which often require a combination of generator and battery power. Quiet periods allow organisers to switch power sources to hydrogen or solar/wind generators which can supply low demand electricity.

Sustainability.
Diesel powered generators are now virtually extinct although they may still be used at some smaller events which have a reduced focus on sustainability initiatives. For festivals with large stages and amplification needs only a fuel powered generator will generally provide sufficient ‘juice’. The fuels used have moved towards Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil which is made from 100% waste vegetable oils. This reduces net CO2 emissions by up to 90% and usually comes with a sustainability certificate (ISCC) to verify that the fuel is not from virgin palm oil which causes deforestations. Fuel powered generators can be smaller if they work in conjunction with a BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) which is charged by the generator. Generators powered by hydrogen fuel cells have been around for a few years and provide a viable alternative to traditional generators. Use of solar and wind to produce electricity are used by many festivals but are weather dependent and generally can only produce a small trickle flow of electricity suitable for camping zone lighting, for example.

Software Driven Power Solutions.
A large fuel powered generator that spends most of the time running at a fraction of capacity is very inefficient. This large capacity is often only needed for brief periods when power needs to surge, but with modern hybrid systems the power generation can be better managed. A combination of fuel (Biofuels and hydrogen) generators, BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) and wind or solar generators is now becoming more common. These different power generation alternatives can be controlled using micro-grid software where AI monitors power needs in real time and automatically diverts the power source to maximise efficiency.

Reliability.
A loss of power during a music festival can be catastrophic especially if it occurs during headliner performances. A nighttime power cut can also have safety implications too where an entire site is thrown into darkness. For these reasons all power generation solutions used by festival organisers must be 100% reliable. As most power generators and solutions are supplied by third party contractors it is essential to conduct a pre-event audit of likely power needs. A contractor should provide on-site technical support to monitor electricity generation systems and fuel levels for example. Most importantly is the provision of N+1 Redundancy which ensures there is at least one "synchronised backup" generator ready to take the full load instantly if primary units fail.

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Image by IO-Images via Pixabay

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