Powering large-scale events has always been a challenge long before net-zero goals and decarbonization targets came into play. Today, with growing demand for greener, cleaner solutions, the need for blended power approaches is greater than ever. A new wave of pioneers is proving that what once seemed impossible is now achievable.
Among these trailblazers is the team behind Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing series. Building on the success of Extreme E, they set out to demonstrate that off-grid events in extreme environments can run without relying on fossil fuels.
To help bring this vision to life we partnered with Al Masaood, our trusted distribution partner in the UAE, to supply Instagrid units, a reliable source of portable power– without the need for fossil fuels.
The Challenge
Hosting an off-grid event in the middle of the Saudi desert was always going to be tough. Doing it without fossil fuels? Almost unthinkable.
But that’s where the team behind Extreme H comes in. They believe in making the impossible possible and we at Instagrid share that vision.
The Solution
Instagrid played a small but critical role in the monumental infrastructure project that is Extreme H. While the main power hub combined hydrogen, battery energy storage (BESS), and solar, there were countless smaller, remote power needs during the build and the live event.
Jobe Gibbs, Project Manager at Power Logistics was part of a team responsible for installing, managing and monitoring power across the site for production, media and broadcast – as well as paddock garages and vehicle recharging. He shared his views on how and where the Instagrid nits were used:
“The Instagrid units used at Extreme H in Saudi performed flawlessly. Paired with their link kit, they reliably powered the start line across all live race days, qualifying, races, and Head-to-Head competitions - despite extreme desert conditions of heat, wind, and sand.
Linking units together proved a reliable and robust solution, allowing changes each night – we’d generally find one unit was fully depleted and the other still at 75% capacity, proving the setup met demanding power needs. Individually, Instagrid units also supported build and break phases, powering tools and compressors in place of generators or long cable runs. All charging came from a BESS powered by solar and hydrogen fuel cells. Going forward, I’d like to see Instagrid playing an integral part in the small but essential power needs at all future events.”
For the 10-day setup period, Instagrid ONE unit’s powered drills, lights, and recharged batteries -quietly and safely -while being recharged themselves overnight at the main hybrid-powered hub.
The alternative? 3kVA petrol generators: noisy, polluting, requiring constant refuelling, and posing health and safety risks in extreme heat. Instagrid eliminated these issues, delivering zero-emission, portable power with added safety benefits.
During the event Instagrid products were used to power race critical infrastructure – the start lights and head-to-head race lights:
Two Instagrid ONE (230v) units and a LINK powered the start lights for five consecutive days under the unforgiving desert sun and were recharged by the operations team each night.
Two additional Instagrid ONE units and a LINK device also powered the head-to-head start lights, reinforcing trust in Instagrid’s reliability to perform in a live, televised event under extreme conditions.
It’s worth noting that although the loads were low and intermittent – two units were used for built-in redundancy, this was critical infrastructure – and a globally televised event.
Feedback from the teams on the ground:
Andy Welsch, Global Hydrogen Development Manager, from Extreme H shared his feedback on Instagrid and the event: “This is the world’s first hydrogen racing series - a natural evolution of our mission to showcase what’s possible as we move away from fossil fuels. Instagrid’s performance in these conditions was impressive.”
Andy Mead, Head of International Markets at Instagrid added: “Extreme H combines cutting-edge hydrogen racing with a fully renewable event power setup in harsh, off-grid conditions. Instagrid ONE formed part of that technology mix, delivering reliable, zero-emission power for the live broadcast and core infrastructure. A pleasure and a privilege to be involved.”
Want Instagrid to power your next event? then get in touch with our experts here > Instagrid