Electric Picnic plans permanent Laois substation for greener main stage this year

Electric Picnic, Ireland’s biggest music and arts festival based in Laois, has announced plans to build a permanent electricity substation so that it can power its main stage using renewable energy.

If a planning application to Laois County Council is successful, it will mean that the Stradbally based festival will be the first in Ireland and the UK to install mains power to reduce its carbon footprint, further cementing their commitment to Laois.

They expect the job to be done in time for this year's festival.

Melvin Benn is Managing Director of Festival Republic.

"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,” he said.

Thomas Cosby is the landowner of Stradbally Hall, home of the festival.

“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,” he said. 

The festival say "this demonstrates Electric Picnic’s future commitment to Stradbally and Laois.

"Festival Republic will submit a planning application 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.

"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 festival says.

"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.

"This reinforces the commitment of Festival Republic in their Green Nation Charter to powering festivals with 100% renewable power by 2030, playing a leading role in creating a greener and more sustainable future for live music in Ireland.

"Festival Republic have been working closely with the 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".

Electric Picnic will take place at the earlier time of August 16 to 18 this year.

Tickets are sold out. The first announcement of acts is expected to be made shortly.