The UK film and television industry has set its sights on using only clean power on location by 2030, after a new industry roadmap was independently reviewed and validated by researchers

from Imperial College London’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

While studios are typically connected to the grid, productions filming on location often depend on temporary power to keep lights, cameras and other equipment running. Much of that power still comes from fossil fuel generators, presenting a major opportunity to cut emissions by switching to cleaner technologies.

“As the leading organisation for sustainability in the UK screen industry, BAFTA albert realised it was time to act.”

Data from 'Accelerate 2025', produced by BAFTA albert, underlines the scale of the challenge. In 2024, UK productions burned more than three million litres of fossil fuel in generators, with over half relying almost entirely on fossil-based power. The report highlights not only the environmental and health impacts of this dependence, but also the influence the screen sector can exert in accelerating the transition to clean temporary power.

That ambition is now formalised in a statement of intent signed this month by leading broadcasters and streamers, committing the industry to making all temporary power clean by 2030. The pledge is supported by SPARK, a roadmap developed by the industry and independently validated by Imperial experts working through Imperial Consultants.

“Drawing on our experience across temporary power technological challenges and opportunities across multiple sectors, we ensured SPARK’s recommendations were both technically robust and practical in order to achieve the 2030 vision,” says Dr Salvador Acha Izquierdo, a specialist in energy systems and net zero strategies in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

“This cross-sector perspective was critical in identifying solutions and best practice that can scale effectively within the UK production supply chain, enhanced by the key enablers identified in SPARK,” he went on.

For BAFTA albert, independent scrutiny was essential. “We chose Imperial Consultants for their unparalleled expertise and reputation in this field,” says April Sotomayor, Head of Industry Sustainability at BAFTA albert. “Our stakeholders needed assurance that our ambitious vision and recommendations were technically sound. Their rigorous review of our roadmap and insightful perspectives gave us the confidence and credibility to set this target.”

Phasing out, phasing in

The SPARK roadmap envisages a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels and stand-alone generators before 2030, supported in the interim by hybrid generators and hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel where necessary. Ultimately, the goal is to transition fully to grid connections, battery storage and other clean power technologies.

“This is a challenge because it needs the co-ordination of many moving parts, including the scaling of new technologies, the development of a skilled supply base and changes to the wider energy system, coupled with a digital strategy,” says Professor Nilay Shah, an expert in processing and sustainability in the department. “Lessons can also be learned from a similar strategy being adopted by the construction industry.”

The Imperial team drew on extensive experience in operational decarbonisation to review, critique and validate the roadmap, while also proposing additional options.

“The Imperial team built on their long experience of operational decarbonisation to review, critique and validate the strategy as well as suggest additional possibilities, balancing ambition with practical achievability and recognising the importance of continuity of operations,” says Professor Shah.

The industry’s transition is structured around three pillars: reducing energy demand through better planning and more efficient equipment; retooling infrastructure and technology to support clean power; and reskilling crews so they can plan, budget for and operate new power solutions.

“By making the transition to the clean solutions, as mapped out in the SPARK roadmap, the industry can reduce emissions, cut air pollution and create quieter, healthier sets without compromising creativity,” the companies behind the initiative say.

The statement of intent has been co-signed by BAFTA albert, BBC, BBC Studios, BFI, Channel 4, Fremantle, ITV, ITV Studios, Netflix, Pact, Sky, UKTV and Universal International Studios. More broadcasters, production companies and suppliers are expected to join in the coming months.

“Applying our decarbonisation expertise to the film and TV industry has been a great experience,” says Dr Acha. “We look forward to SPARK having an important impact and being an example for others to follow.”

“We were fortunate in that we have been working on several related challenges which allowed us to get up to speed quickly,” adds Professor Shah. “It’s also the case that the learnings from this project can be used elsewhere, for example in construction, sporting events, etc.” Photo by Shadowssettle, Wikimedia commons.