How the Film Industry Can Embrace Renewable Energy: Lessons from Ireland and the Promise of Mobile Nanogrids

Published on

April 2, 2025

The Future of Film Is Green: Ireland’s Bold Step

In a groundbreaking move for sustainable filmmaking, the upcoming action-comedy Kung Fu Deadly, starring Chinese-Irish actor Steven He, is set to become Ireland's first film production to utilize hydrogen power units. Currently filming in Dublin and County Meath, the production is pioneering the use of renewable energy by replacing traditional diesel generators with eco-friendly hydrogen power.

This initiative marks a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of film productions. By adopting hydrogen power, Kung Fu Deadly aims to demonstrate that high-energy filmmaking can align with sustainable practices, setting a precedent for future projects in the industry.

Alexandra de Valera, Director of Ecoscope and a sustainability consultant in the film industry, praised the project, saying:

"Being involved on the first application of green hydrogen power at industry level has been one of my proudest experiences in the movie industry because we need to learn and invest in green technologies to actively make a difference."

In a field where high-energy demands often lead to significant carbon emissions, Kung Fu Deadly demonstrates that high-octane, cinematic storytelling can be achieved without compromising environmental integrity.

But this is only the beginning.

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A Global Industry with a Carbon Problem

From Hollywood to Bollywood, film and TV productions consume massive amounts of energy. Location shoots often require transporting heavy equipment, lighting rigs, trailers, and crew—most of which run on diesel generators that emit CO₂, noise, and toxic fumes.

According to a 2021 report by Albert, the British film industry’s sustainability agency, a single hour of television production emits around 9.2 tonnes of CO₂. Larger blockbuster movies can generate thousands of tonnes over the course of production.

As audiences, regulators, and creatives push for cleaner production practices, the pressure is on for the industry to find scalable alternatives to fossil fuels. Ireland’s hydrogen-powered production is a proof-of-concept that sustainability and creativity are not mutually exclusive. Still, other mobile, off-grid, and reliable clean energy solutions are urgently needed.

That’s where Sesame Solar comes in.

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Sesame Solar: Powering the Entertainment Industry with Mobile Nanogrids

Sesame Solar’s Renewable Mobile Nanogrids offer a practical and scalable way to create efficiencies in the film industry. These compact, trailer-based units generate clean power using solar energy and green hydrogen, all without requiring grid connection or diesel fuel.

Each Nanogrid unfolds in minutes and begins generating power almost immediately, making it perfect for remote sets, pop-up studios, mobile editing bays, catering services, and more. With zero emissions and quieter operation, Nanogrids enhance both environmental sustainability and on-set productivity.

In fact, Sesame Solar is already making inroads in entertainment. In 2023, the company partnered with the Clean Mobile Power Initiative—a collaborative effort co-founded by Disney, Netflix and RMI, and managed by Third Derivative to help transition the entertainment industry to a zero-emission future.

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‍Why the Entertainment Industry Needs Clean Mobile Power‍

As more countries set net-zero targets and introduce stricter emissions standards, the entertainment industry will be expected to comply. Clean mobile power offers multiple advantages:

Quieter Operation: Unlike diesel generators, Nanogrids reduce noise pollution—crucial on quiet sets.
Zero Emissions: Ideal for reducing a production’s carbon footprint.
Off-Grid Ready and Mobile: Enables shooting in remote locations without sacrificing power reliability.
Reduced Operating Costs: Long-term savings over fuel-based systems and no fuel supply chain.
Fast Setup: Deployed and generating power in under 15 minutes—perfect for fast-paced shoots.

By incorporating Sesame Solar’s Nanogrids, productions can go fuel free from day one, whether filming in the Irish countryside, an urban jungle, or a desert set.

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Building a Cleaner Industry, One Set at a Time

Ireland’s hydrogen-powered film shows what's possible. But to make renewable filmmaking the norm—not the exception—productions need reliable, scalable, and mobile solutions. Hydrogen and solar power, when used in tandem, provide a clean energy backbone that the entire industry can build upon.

Sesame Solar’s Mobile Nanogrids make this transition easier than ever. With the ability to provide renewable energy anywhere, film studios, production crews, and independent creators can take real steps toward decarbonizing their work—without sacrificing creativity, power, or mobility.

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Final Take: Lights, Camera, Sustainability

Sustainability is no longer a side project—it’s central to the future of storytelling. From Ireland’s green filmmaking breakthrough to Sesame Solar’s mobile energy revolution, the tools for cleaner entertainment are here. Now it’s up to the film industry to make them standard.

It’s time to roll the credits on fossil-fueled productions and usher in a new era where every scene, every take, and every story is powered by clean, renewable energy.

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