POWRBANKs Bring Clean Energy to Lollapalooza Main Stage

Clean energy powered Lollapalooza's main stage

POWRBANKs, charged by a temporary solar array, helped provide clean energy to Lollapalooza's main stage

Twelve POWRBANKs were supplied and managed by Overdrive Energy Solutions

POWR2’s POWRBANKs, supplied and managed by Overdrive Energy Solutions, supplied zero-emission power to Billie Eilish's headline set at Lollapalooza 2023.

BETHEL, CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES, June 20, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- POWR2, a global leader in mobile battery energy storage solutions, proudly acknowledges the impact of the POWRBANK battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the 2023 Lollapalooza festival. As part of the Music Decarbonization Project, Billie Eilish and Reverb partnered to bring clean energy solutions to the main stage at Lollapalooza. POWR2’s POWRBANKs, supplied and managed by Overdrive Energy Solutions, were charged via a temporary on-site solar array. The POWRBANKs supplied zero-emission power to Eilish’s 80-minute headline set.

THE CHALLENGE
The team was tasked with powering Billie Eilish’s lighting, video, audio, and special effects, including the rapid elevator “toaster” that popped Eilish on stage at the start of the show.

One of the primary challenges faced in this endeavor was the absence of a standardized benchmark for providing clean power to a main stage show of Lollapalooza's magnitude. Additionally, the lack of rehearsal time hindered the team's ability to estimate the power requirements.

“There was a bit of a challenge, just in terms of sizing the system. Because we never got to do rehearsals with the equipment that they were bringing on stage, we didn’t really know what the loads were,” explains Sean Jacobs, the lead engineer at Overdrive Energy Solutions.

THE SOLUTION
• Utilized 12 POWRBANK XPRO battery energy storage systems, each with an output capacity of 60kW and a storage capacity of 120 kWh.

To address these challenges, the team implemented a scalable and flexible clean energy solution centered around renewable energy. They deployed twelve POWRBANK XPRO battery energy storage systems. A temporary on-site 60kW solar array consisting of 136 solar panels charged them prior to the event. The POWRBANKs were configured to supply five services: one 400-amp, three 200-amp, and one 100-amp.

“What we did from the get-go, was design everything from the solar, to the POWR2 units that we use, even how we set up the wire, and everything so that we’d have as many options as we could on site to make it work the way we needed to,” Neel Vasavada, founder of Overdrive Energy Solutions, states.

One major concern was providing enough power for the extensive lighting services needed during the show. They used three POWRBANKs to power the lighting package. In total, the system could provide 750 kW of power and 1.4 MWh of energy storage.

THE RESULTS
• 6.6% of the total energy stored was used.
• 1.02 metric tonnes of potential carbon offset.
• 180 gallons of potential diesel fuel saved.

Efficient and Reliable Power
Despite the main stage's substantial energy requirements, only a fraction of the total energy storage capacity was utilized. This showcased the efficiency and reliability of the POWRBANKs. Notably, the three POWRBANKs tasked with powering lighting services used only 29% of the total energy available.

Reduced Maintenance Requirements
While generators required oil changes and refueling onsite, the POWRBANKs required no maintenance at the event.

Scalable and Flexible
The surplus energy capacity of the system showcased its ability to sustainably power numerous headline sets. It underscores its potential for future large-scale events. With the capacity to support approximately 10 additional sets with similar power requirements without recharging, the system's versatility and reliability were clearly demonstrated.

Reduced CO2 Emissions and Fuel Consumption
This achievement not only established a groundbreaking precedent for sustainability within the music industry, but it also delivered tangible environmental benefits, including significant carbon offset and substantial fuel savings.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
This success showcased the feasibility of clean energy solutions in large-scale music events. It also provided a clear path forward for the music industry to take proactive climate action. By pioneering innovative approaches to energy management, the initiative achieved its sustainability goals and set a precedent for future events to follow suit.

“As an engineer, I say that the main impediment to adoption is culture. It’s not technology,” Neel Vasavada says.

As the global community intensifies its efforts to combat climate change, initiatives like the Music Decarbonization Project serve as beacons of progress, demonstrating the power of collective action in building a sustainable future.

ABOUT POWR2

POWR2 is a leading manufacturer of clean portable power solutions that help businesses meet their energy efficiency and sustainability goals. Innovative solutions from POWR2 drive profitability and sustainability with cutting-edge battery energy storage system technology. POWR2 is headquartered in Bethel, CT with distribution worldwide.
Visit POWR2 or join the conversation on our LinkedIn page, and let’s simplify sustainability.

Anne Nelson
POWR2
+1 475-470-0174
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