How Cleantech is Helping Hollywood Go Green: 4 Things I Learned at the 2023 Cleantech Demo Days
With the green economy expected to continue booming, thanks mainly to the Inflation Reduction Act, jobs in clean energy are on the rise. Renewable energy has gained much recognition and praise in recent years, with many showing that hiring in the sector has outpaced the oil and gas industries since 2020. The increase in green jobs is excellent news for those seeking a sustainable career. At EMA, we believe that humans have the potential to solve the climate crisis and the challenges it brings through collaboration, innovation, and storytelling.
We are excited to share and amplify the advances in cleantech happening in the entertainment industry and how they benefit industries beyond. Earlier this month, the Clean Mobile Power Initiative, an organization dedicated to establishing zero-emission mobile energy at scale in entertainment, launched the Cleantech Demo Days for Film and TV Production at the renowned Sunset Studios in Los Angeles, where we hosted the 2022 EMA Awards. This two-day event showcased all the incredible innovations in cleantech aimed at divesting from fossil fuel energy and greening the entertainment industry.
I am happy to share what stood out to me from the event, making me more hopeful for an equitable and just future within the entertainment industry and others in the years to come.
Alternative Energy Sources are Growing
The demand for cleaner sources of energy is no surprise. Fortunately, corporations recognize the buying power that today's youth have and are aligning their business goals in ways that benefit society and the planet. Earlier this year, The Walt Disney Company and Netflix executives partnered with Rocky Mountain Institute and their climate tech accelerator, Third Derivative, to create the Clean Mobile Power Initiative. This initiative is in response to the growing demand to curb the emissions from diesel generators, accounting for 700,000 tons of CO2e emissions per year within the sector. As diesel contributes around 15 percent of a production's emissions, studios, executives, and film crews on set are keen on the idea of sources that have very little to no emissions at all. Fortunately, this idea is more possible today with the acceleration of such technologies as battery storage, power units, biomass, and on-set renewable energy to eventually replace diesel generators altogether.
Clean Energy is Better for Both Productions and Storytelling
The entertainment industry is the cornerstone of societal influence and pop culture. As climate change has taken center stage in the mainstream, so has the media we consume. We now see big-budget productions prioritizing climate-focused storytelling, as is the case for productions such as EMA Award winner Don't Look Up and Extrapolations.
Now, behind the screen, productions can walk the walk. Hydrogen power, for example, is excellent as it's non-toxic, needs little maintenance, and produces water instead as a byproduct instead of emissions. It appears hydrogen is a step up from dirty diesel generators. Additionally, companies are upgrading solar panels! One business I was in awe of, NUE, showcased the latest technology to make solar panels durable and configurable, providing renewable energy as a reliable source while also being flexible. With this level of portability, we can power productions efficiently and silently, as diesel generators cause noise disruptions on sets.
Productions can be a significant expense, and studios are always excited to find ways to increase savings while being practical. Battery systems, for example, provide this by being able to charge during off-peak hours. They can also utilize solar energy generated on production sets, allowing for a complete reduction in emissions.
Productions can become Their Own Microgrids
Energy efficiency is the use of less energy to achieve the same result. The most notable example was the introduction of LED bulbs, which use up to 80 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs. The concept has been expanded further since then and has found its way onto TV and film sets. I was pleasantly surprised when walking about the studio lot, I stumbled upon solar-powered trailers. Greenlite Trailers is a cleantech company founded last year focused on making trailers self-sufficient and 100 percent solar powered. Further, the rooftop solar panels can charge 40kwh of lithium batteries, powering the trailer overnight.
With the technologies mentioned becoming more available, production sets can achieve energy efficiency and become their own "microgrids," utilizing different energy sources at other times for different needs. This type of cycle has the potential to save productions time, money, and, most of all, energy.
Cleantech Makes Good Business Sense
Based on the previous point, deploying clean energy sources for TV and movie productions has benefits long after the wrap party. With funding going towards accelerators to bring these solutions at scale, we see ways to make sets cleaner, quieter, safer, and more equitable, reinforcing the push towards a green economy. The sticking point for me was learning that some of these companies are not just catering to the entertainment industry but others as well. I was overjoyed to hear that emergency management or event venues can also use this technology. In addition, this will provide accountability towards studios and executives who want to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices. I can only think of winners in this scenario.
Toward the end of the event, I saw some familiar faces. The community at these eco-events always brings me joy. I know so many incredible changemakers from all corners of the industry are working tirelessly to create a positive impact. A friend and colleague, Miranda Jackson, Environmental Sustainability Analyst at The Walt Disney Company, highlighted the day's importance by sharing, "The CleanTech Demo Days event was a perfect way to bring production folks and tech innovators together to work towards this goal. It was also a great chance, as a sustainability professional, to learn more about emerging ideas and innovations that will likely shape the future of clean energy."
I share that same sentiment and enthusiasm, hopeful for what will come from this event. As more and more citizens become engaged locally, we see the momentum for more collaboration and thought leadership. Clean energy will only continue to be more readily used and available, and I'm excited about what this means for our future. Keep your shades on; the sun is shining!
Written by Demitri Fierro, ISSP-SEA (MBA Sustainable Management). EMA is not affiliated with any of the cleantech companies listed in this contributed article.