When you think of music festivals like Glastonbury, Benicàssim or Reading and Leeds, you picture thousands of revellers gathered in fields or coastal sites, the air thick with music, laughter and the hum of energy. Few stop to consider the literal hum that keeps it all alive: the generators powering lights, stages, food stalls, medical tents, security outposts and more. The question of whether music festivals could run without generators is an increasingly relevant one, especially as climate concerns intensify and festival organisers face mounting pressure to adopt greener practices.
What Makes Generators So Central to Festivals?
Modern music festivals have evolved dramatically since their grassroots origins. Events like Glastonbury now operate as miniature cities for several days, requiring enormous infrastructure for safety, comfort and entertainment. From powering gigantic sound systems that can blast music across acres to illuminating sprawling campsites at night, electricity is vital.
Unlike urban concerts in fixed venues, outdoor festivals are usually held in remote or rural locations, far from reliable mains electricity. Temporary power becomes the only practical solution. Mobile diesel generators are the go-to choice, known for their versatility and ability to deliver high power loads over extended periods. Without these generators, most modern festivals simply could not function in their current form.
The Scale of Energy Needs at Major Events
Consider Glastonbury, the largest greenfield music festival in the world, held on Worthy Farm in Somerset. It draws over 200,000 people and requires enough electricity to power a small town. Stages, bars, food vendors, security posts, medical facilities and sanitation units all need a continuous supply of power.
A typical main stage alone can demand several hundred kilowatts of power just for audio and lighting. When you multiply that across dozens of stages, plus the endless supply of food stalls, merchandise tents and campsite lighting, the demand adds up rapidly. Benicàssim, held each year on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, is no less power-hungry despite its beachside setting. Its line-up of global artists, late-night performances and beachfront infrastructure rely heavily on portable power units to keep fans dancing until dawn.
UK events like Reading and Leeds, Download and Isle of Wight Festival all face similar challenges. They are large-scale operations temporarily built on greenfield sites, demanding robust, portable power sources. Mains electricity may be available in limited areas but is rarely extensive enough to meet all needs.
What Types of Generators Do Festivals Use?
Diesel generators remain the backbone of festival power. They come in various sizes, from smaller 20 kVA units for individual food stalls to massive 1,250 kVA containerised generators for main stage operations. Typically, festivals deploy fleets of multiple generators of different sizes, strategically placed to handle different zones and workloads.
Synchronised generator systems allow multiple units to work together, adjusting power output as demand rises or falls. This flexibility helps reduce unnecessary fuel burn when demand is lower, such as during the early hours of the morning. Diesel fuel is still the most commonly used because of its energy density and the practicality of refuelling on-site.
Alongside diesel units, some festivals have begun experimenting with hybrid generators, which combine traditional diesel engines with battery storage. During lower demand, the battery takes over, cutting down fuel use and emissions. But the reality is that even these hybrids still rely heavily on diesel as the primary energy source.
The Environmental Cost of Diesel Generators
There is no hiding the environmental impact of using diesel generators at scale. Burning diesel emits greenhouse gases such as CO₂ and NOₓ, along with particulate matter. Large festivals like Glastonbury have worked hard to improve their environmental credentials, but power generation remains one of the trickiest areas to tackle.
Many festivals now operate under strict sustainability policies, encouraging visitors to recycle, banning single-use plastics and promoting public transport. However, replacing diesel generators with a cleaner alternative remains a far more complex task. The sheer size and unpredictability of power needs make any transition challenging. Festival organisers must balance sustainability with reliability — no festival-goer wants to stand in the dark when the headliner hits the stage.
Are There Viable Alternatives to Generators?
The dream of running a festival entirely without generators is appealing but not yet practical for most large-scale events. Some smaller festivals, like boutique or day-only gatherings, have experimented with alternative power sources such as solar and hydrogen fuel cells.
Solar energy, in particular, shows promise. Temporary solar arrays can generate electricity during the day, stored in large battery banks to supply power after sunset. Some festival stages and small areas already use solar towers or panels for lighting or phone charging stations. But scaling this up to power a headline stage or multiple food courts remains a huge challenge due to the vast energy required and the unpredictable nature of British weather.
Hydrogen fuel cells are another technology that’s gaining attention. They produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction rather than combustion, emitting only water vapour. The challenge here is the cost and logistics of transporting and storing hydrogen safely on a festival site.
Some festivals have piloted these technologies in specific areas. Glastonbury has tested solar-powered backstage areas, hybrid generators and biodiesel blends to reduce its footprint. Benicàssim, with its sunnier climate, has trialled solar-powered installations. Still, these efforts only cover a fraction of their total power needs.
Lessons from Smaller and Greener Events
While the giants like Glastonbury and Benicàssim face unique challenges, smaller events show what is possible on a reduced scale. Folk festivals, yoga retreats and boutique events have successfully run stages and facilities entirely on solar or other renewables, thanks to their lower energy demands and smaller audiences.
For example, The Green Gathering in Wales prides itself on being entirely off-grid, using a mix of solar, wind and pedal power to run its stages and site facilities. It demonstrates that it is possible to have live music and lights without diesel fumes, though the scale remains modest compared to Glastonbury’s sprawling metropolis.
These smaller festivals also benefit from an audience that expects a more rustic, low-impact experience. Attendees at a green festival are often more accepting of limitations such as smaller sound systems or fewer light shows. In contrast, large mainstream events need to meet the high expectations of headline acts and vast crowds.
Could the National Grid Plug the Gap?
Another potential solution is connecting festival sites to the national grid. This would reduce reliance on diesel but brings its own challenges. Many rural festival sites are far from robust grid infrastructure and connecting temporary sites to the grid for a few days can be costly and logistically complex.
Additionally, grid electricity is not always as green as people might assume. If the local grid is still powered largely by fossil fuels, the carbon savings may be minimal compared to using modern efficient generators. That said, the UK’s overall energy mix is becoming greener each year as renewables expand. If grid connections become feasible, they could form part of a longer-term solution for certain festival sites.
The Potential for Battery Storage
Battery technology has improved rapidly in recent years. Large-scale battery banks could play a significant role in reducing generator use by storing energy from renewable sources or charging from the grid at times of lower demand.
Battery storage can be combined with hybrid generators to optimise fuel use. When demand is low, the battery supplies power, reducing generator runtime. When demand spikes, the generator kicks in to top up the supply and recharge the batteries if needed. Several festivals have already invested in this type of system with encouraging results, but again, the technology is not yet ready to replace generators entirely.
How Organisers Are Innovating
Many festivals are committed to experimenting with new solutions and driving innovation. Glastonbury’s long-standing Green Fields area showcases sustainability ideas, including wind turbines and solar stages. The festival has also worked with energy experts to map power demand more accurately, helping organisers deploy the right size generators and reduce fuel waste.
Benicàssim, Reading and Leeds, and Boomtown Fair have all trialled similar innovations. Boomtown Fair, for example, uses a mix of biodiesel, hybrid generators and battery storage to reduce emissions. It also audits its energy use closely to identify inefficiencies.
Some festivals are partnering with renewable energy companies to pilot hydrogen fuel cell generators for specific stages or backstage areas. While this is still experimental, it is an important step towards reducing diesel dependence.
Can Festival-Goers Make a Difference?
Festival power is not just an organiser’s responsibility. Attendees can help reduce overall energy use in subtle but important ways. Choosing to bring fewer devices to charge, turning off lights in campervans when not needed, and supporting festivals that prioritise renewable energy all contribute to a lower overall demand.
Many festival-goers are increasingly conscious of their environmental footprint. As this awareness grows, it creates demand for greener options and gives organisers the confidence to invest in more sustainable power solutions.
The Future of Festival Power
Could music festivals run entirely without generators? For the foreseeable future, it is unlikely that large events like Glastonbury or Benicàssim could operate without at least some form of portable power generation. The remote locations, unpredictable weather and vast energy needs make diesel and hybrid generators the most practical solution for now.
However, that does not mean the status quo will continue indefinitely. Advances in battery technology, renewable generation, hydrogen fuel cells and smarter power management are steadily chipping away at diesel’s dominance. Over the coming decades, it is likely that generators will become cleaner, quieter and more efficient, supplemented more heavily by renewables and grid connections where feasible.
Meanwhile, the example set by smaller festivals proves that creative solutions and community buy-in can make a difference. Each pilot project, from solar-powered stages to hydrogen cells, adds to the body of knowledge that could one day make a generator-free festival possible.
A Stage Set for Change
The music festival experience is about freedom, creativity and pushing boundaries. It should come as no surprise that the same spirit is driving the search for greener ways to power the party. While the humble diesel generator will remain a fixture for some time yet, it is increasingly being seen as part of the past rather than the future.
Whether in the rolling fields of Somerset, the beaches of Benicàssim or the muddy campsites of Leeds, the journey towards a sustainable festival culture is well underway. As technology evolves and audiences demand change, the beat goes on — and with it, the hope that one day, music festivals might truly run without the roar of a diesel engine in the background.
