Glastonbury 2024: the festival is increasingly green
The lights have gone out (and on this occasion it is literally the case) on the 2024 edition of the glorious Glastonbury Festival the time has come to take stock and evaluate some new developments that concern the event but that can be preparatory for the future of these events, even large ones.
Unsurprisingly for a festival with such a focus on sustainability and respect for the land around Worthy Farm, this year’s Glastonbury has seen a wide range of technological developments aimed at making the festival world much more environmentally friendly. Some of these changes were obvious to festival-goers wandering around the festival site last weekend, but others were hidden but just as significant.
One of the biggest changes, not just for Glastonbury but for festivals as a whole, has come with the evolution of battery power. This year’s Arcadia stage, complete with a giant fire-breathing dragonfly It was powered entirely by batteries rather than diesel generators.
It is an important revolution because Arcadia, as reported by the chronicles and the stories of those present, was certainly one of the most impressive places from a visual point of view. An energy-hungry stage, which could not be ignored, dominated by a colossal dragonfly flanked by pyrotechnic effects and a constant light show even at night.
Dale Vincethe founder of Ecotricitywhich focuses on renewable energy and a greener approach to electricity, announced on X – formerly Twitter – that Arcadia has been powered entirely by batteries. In the post he described the batteries as “the largest festival batteries we’ve ever built.”
Vince also added: “These batteries were designed specifically for outdoor events to replace diesel generators.” These fossil-fuel-powered, polluting devices have so far been the primary source of power for the majority of music festivals and outdoor events. Given the role diesel generators play in the industry, it’s hard to argue with Vince’s statement: “This is going to change the way we power festivals.”
It’s not yet clear how this advancement in festival technology will play out, but it seems likely that these battery-powered stages will become increasingly common at music festivals as organizers focus more on climate and sustainability issues.
