The Stradbally festival made a sustainability announcement about their 2024 edition.
Electric Picnic has already sold out since September, nearly a year in advance of the 2024 festival, and while there is no word on the lineup yet.
The festival organisers have announced that the main stage will be connected to the grid, and powered by renewable energy for the first time, making use of wind and solar.
Electric Picnic says this marks the first time a festival of its kind in the UK and Ireland will install mains power to reduce its carbon footprint.
Festival main stage is normally powered by generators.
Organisers Festival Republic have a commitment in their Green Nation Charter to powering festivals with 100% renewable power by 2030.
How will the stage be powered by the grid?
A planning application will be submitted for a substation and if successful, work will begin later this year on delivering grid power to the main stage which will mark the transition of the outdoor live sector to renewable power.
Electric Picnic will be seeking an energy supply that allows the festival to benefit from Ireland’s expanding renewable energy generation, in particular onshore wind energy and the large-scale solar projects that are being developed around the country.
The grid power will ultimately reduce carbon emissions associated with powering the main stage of the festival in 2024 and reduce the need to use temporary generators.
Festival Republic have been working with landowner Thomas Cosby and a network provider to supply a connection large enough to power the Electric Picnic main stage for the duration of the festival.
Working with local companies and individuals in Ireland to provide the services and solutions needed; including engineers, architects, planning consultants and electricians.
The goal is to inspire other festivals to assess the feasibility of connecting their event to the national grid, as this is a long-term sustainable solution to reduce carbon emissions at festivals.
A successful planning application will allow Festival Republic to build a substation in keeping with the local stonework in a secluded area at Stradbally Hall.
If this is granted, construction work can get underway in spring 2024 so that the festival is connected in time for the summer.
‘The installation of our first grid connection is a key contributor to our goal of reducing carbon emissions associated with the festival by 50% by 2030 in line with our Green Nation Charter. I hope that by leading the way and sharing what we have learned, festival goers can have an amazing time at Electric Picnic safe in the knowledge that we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on the only planet we have got.” –
Melvin Benn, Managing Director Festival Republic
“This Festival Republic initiative ties in well with the estate’s programme towards carbon neutrality; It complements our existing renewable energy installations, including biomass, hydroelectric, solar and sustainable forestry management.” –
Thomas Cosby, Stradbally Hall
Is Electric Picnic 2024 sold out?
Tickets for Electric Picnic 2024 sold out in September 2023.
