For the first time in the history of large-scale outdoor events in the UK, Festival Republic are installing a new, purpose-built mains power supply in Finsbury Park as part of a significant sustainability initiative aimed at reducing the use of onsite generators and aiding the transition towards an outdoor music sector run on renewable energy sources. It will power the stage and other key locations on-site at Festival Republic events directly from the electrical grid.
Unveiled at a breaking-ground event in Finsbury Park this morning with Festival Republic Managing Director Melvin Benn, the Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Peray Ahmet, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Emily Arkell and Head of Parks and Climate Action at Haringey Council, Simon Farrow in attendance, this development represents a major step forward in cementing Festival Republic’s contributions towards Live Nation’s Green Nation Charter. Specifically, by decreasing reliance on generators, currently responsible for a large share of festival‑related emissions, the mains supply will markedly lower carbon output associated with onsite power. Furthermore, connecting to the mains supply enables the use of a green energy tariff, ensuring that renewable electricity is sourced for the event and increases the share of renewables in the grid.
The transition to grid connections is increasingly recognised as a critical industry priority. The recently published Show Must Go On Report highlights this shift, identifying ‘Replacing all fossil fuels with renewable electricity sources’ as a key action area for the live events sector, and calls for policy to accelerate the installation of grid connections in public outdoor spaces.
This project underscores a shared commitment to more sustainable event delivery and marks another meaningful milestone for Festival Republic in the ongoing effort to reduce environmental impact across major UK festivals.
Festival Republic’s Managing Director, Melvin Benn says: “Installing a purpose-built mains power supply in Finsbury Park continues our long-term commitment to producing sustainable large-scale outdoor events and festivals, as well as lowering the impact of event operations in the park and to the local community. We’re proud to be spearheading the transition towards outdoor music spaces run entirely on renewable energy sources.”
The Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Peray Ahmet says: “We’re delighted to be working in tandem with our partners at Festival Republic to help improve the local environment in Finsbury Park. Connecting the festival site to mains power cuts emissions and enables us to deliver the same fantastic music experience in a much more sustainable way. By doing this, we are helping set the standard for large-scale events.
Back in 2023, we entered into a five-year agreement with Festival Republic and one of the main reasons for doing so was to mutually work towards some long-term planning for the staging of our Major Events Schedule in Finsbury Park.
This project is an important milestone and clear evidence we can implement progressive improvements to the park on a year-to-year basis for the benefit of our residents and visitors to the borough.”
Author: Kizzy Allott
Kizzy Allott is Publisher at Event Industry News, where she has been a driving force behind the brand for over a decade. With a deep understanding of the events sector and a passion for storytelling, Kizzy leads the platform’s commercial and content strategy, connecting the industry through news, insights, and meaningful conversations. She is dedicated to championing innovation, amplifying industry voices, and ensuring event professionals stay informed, inspired, and future-focused.
