In 2024, UK film and TV productions burned through an estimated three million litres of fossil fuel through generator usage. More than half of all productions relied almost entirely on them. Those are not abstract statistics. On every affected set, that meant diesel noise bleeding into takes, fume extraction in tight spaces and fuel logistics eating into time and budgets.
SPARK, the industry roadmap developed by BAFTA Albert and validated by Imperial College London, has laid out a practical path to fix it.
The target: clean temporary power across UK film and TV production by 2030. The signatories backing the Statement of Intent include the BBC, ITV, ITV Studios, Netflix, Channel 4, Sky, BFI, and Fremantle.
Here at Instagrid we’re proud to be one of the companies signed up to support SPARK, and to be part of the conversation about how to get there.
What SPARK is asking for
SPARK is built around three pillars: Reduce, Retool, and Reskill. Cut energy demand through smarter planning. Upgrade equipment and infrastructure. Train production teams to plan and budget for clean power from the outset.
The roadmap does not ask productions to compromise. It asks them to plan differently. The transition includes using hybrid generator systems and HVO as bridging steps, with the ideal destination being grid connections, portable power supplies, and other clean technologies where generators are simply no longer the default.
That is a realistic ask, because the technology exists today. So now the focus shifts to supporting the switch, building trust in new technologies and sharing knowledge.
Why Instagrid is the right fit for production
Instagrid portable power supplies were designed for demanding professional environments: construction sites, rail infrastructure, enclosed service spaces. Film and broadcast sets share many of the same requirements. Power needs to arrive instantly, perform reliably, the ultimate silent partner.
Instagrid ONE delivers 3.6 kW continuous output and an 18 kW peak in a 20 kg unit. It operates in silence. No exhaust. No noise. No fuel to source, store, or dispose of safely on location. It can be repositioned by one person, without a trolley, in the time it takes to move a camera.
Need more power? Then Instagrid LINK connects up to three Instagrid ONE units, extending capacity to 6.3 kWh with hot-swap capability so runtime is never interrupted. Instagrid LINK MAX adds three-phase 400 V capability for higher-draw equipment, without a generator in sight.
No trailing cables across the unit base. No fuel spill risk. No generator hum under dialogue.
Putting theory into practice
A series of events hosted by ITV Studios, Creative Zero and SPARK aims to bring together broadcasters, production crews, and suppliers to move from roadmap to reality. Agendas will cover the SPARK framework in practice, insights from broadcasters who have already committed to the transition, getting hands-on with equipment and direct conversations between suppliers and the onsite production teams who will implement these changes day to day.
That last part matters. The gap between a sustainability pledge at board level and a gaffer choosing the right power source on a location shoot is not filled by policy. It is filled by practical knowledge, working relationships, and equipment that actually does the job.
Instagrid is attending to be part of that practical conversation, and we’re proud to share since our launch 4 years ago – Instagrid ONE now features on almost every kit list.
Power becomes invisible. Creativity takes centre stage.
The case for clean temporary power on set is not just environmental, though the numbers are compelling. The operational benefits of switching to cleaner power are just as important; quieter sets, safer working conditions for cast and crew, faster set-ups and no fuel logistics all stack up to make the switch even more appealing.
Generators became the default because, for a long time, nothing better existed. That is no longer true. SPARK is the industry acknowledging that, collectively, and committing to act on it.
Instagrid is ready to help production teams make the switch, to find your nearest rental partner or request a demo visit Instagrid
Or to find out more about SPARK visit: baftaalbert.org/resources/spark-clean-temporary-power-by-2030