Insights from The Shift Report: Decarbonising Transport and Mobile Power in Film & TV Production
Our Managing Director Steve Knight was invited to join a panel with Sky, Netflix, and ADF to discuss The Fuel Project: The Shift – a new feasibility study led by Film London and Creative Zero. The report dives into how London’s film and TV production suppliers can transition to low-carbon technologies. The room was buzzing, with over 70 key industry players keen to find ways to make productions more sustainable.
The big takeaway? Moving away from fossil fuels is possible and we could achieve this within the next decade.
Pixipixel is proud to have played our part, contributing data and insights from our fleet alongside over 100 other suppliers. The report, led by Roxy Erickson, Laurence Johnson, and Alex Lewis-Jones, provides a clear pathway for reducing emissions from transport and mobile power units (MPUs) to get us on track toward net-zero.
Fossil Fuels: Shifting away from the main source of emissions
The biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the film and TV industry comes from the use of fossil fuels in transport and mobile power units. We’re talking about 5,000 trucks, vans, and generators powering productions all over London, most of which still run on diesel.
But change is possible. By switching to alternatives like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and electric vehicles, the industry could reduce CO2 emissions by 90% this decade. Of course, this will require significant investment in electric trucks and batteries to make it happen.
The report provides a clear framework to follow:
Avoid activities that burn fuel and emit greenhouse gases wherever possible
Improve practices that increase energy efficiency
Shift to low-carbon technologies like batteries, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and hydrogen
Download The Shift report
If you’re working on set, you know how essential reliable transport and power are, and now we all also know these are the biggest contributors to emissions. The Shift Report gives us all a clear and practical roadmap to decarbonisation. For those who want the full details, you can download the report here.
Leading the way
At Pixipixel, we’ve always put sustainability front and centre. In 2021, we became the first UK lighting rental house to fully switch to HVO for all our transport and generators. That one move reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 130 tonnes in just a year – an 87% cut in CO2 emissions.
And we haven’t stopped there. In 2024, we introduced the UK’s first hybrid load-carrying generator, a game-changer for our industry. We’re continuing to expand our range of batteries and generators so productions of all sizes can access greener power solutions.
Sustainable power for your next production
Looking to make your next project greener? At Pixipixel, we offer a range of sustainable power solutions that can help reduce your carbon footprint. From hybrid generators to compact battery systems, we’ve got options to suit productions of any size. Check these out:
Let’s make a difference together
We’re here to help productions of all sizes make greener choices. So, if you’re ready to make your next project more sustainable, get in touch. Let’s work together to make an impact.