The annual Rugby Fireworks event went off with a bang this year thanks to a business that is revolutionising the way people think about powering outdoor events.
But Off Grid Energy, the company behind the Grid to Go portable hybrid power solution, says that local authorities need to wake up to the latest technological developments.
Danny Jones, the managing director of Off Grid Energy, said: “Our Grid to Go is currently being used in construction projects and various agricultural applications. The events industry has woken up to the potential in terms of cost savings and sustainability, but local authorities and the public sector in general are not exploiting these latest developments in technology.
“The sooner they switch on and request their contractors to comply by using low carbon solutions, the sooner they can make an impact on their budgets, not to mention the UK’s emission targets.”
Off Grid Energy provides remote energy solutions for people in places where grid power is unavailable, unreliable or too expensive to connect. The Grid to Go is a clean and silent alternative to generator power that is cost effective and significantly reduces CO2 emissions. It uses energy stored in lithium-ion batteries and, in the right circumstances, it can also incorporate renewable forms of energy (solar and wind) to top up the batteries - something that is not possible with a diesel generator.
Just like thousands of fireworks displays across the country, the Rugby event venue required a power supply for ticket scanners and laptops as well as a mobile broadband service and lighting. But in the middle of a field, mains electricity isn’t available.
Malcolm Freeman, one of the organisers, said: “In previous years a small generator has been used when we needed lighting, but as we’ve introduced a pre-paid option this year, there is a certain amount of technology that is needed to support it. Generators are noisy and dirty, not to mention expensive in terms of diesel.
“Apart from the obvious financial savings and more money going to good causes as a result, this solution is much ‘greener’ than a generator. The Grid to Go reduces substantially our carbon footprint, an important consideration. It was so easy to set up, too! The unit was dropped off and we were able to plug all our equipment into it straightaway.”
Danny Jones from Off Grid Energy concluded: “This was a small event, but local authority contractors are responsible for using thousands of generators whether for events, construction or road works.
“The potential for saving money from the public purse is substantial if they switch to hybrid options and they may well help save the planet into the bargain.”
