WOMAD will, for the first time, entirely power its main stage with batteries using 100% green energy.

The independent festival was one of the first events to work with Ecotricity and Grid Faeries to battery power a stage with renewable energy. In 2024, Grid Faeries and Ecotricity’s 3 MW clean energy battery was used to power the Charlie Gillet Stage, one of WOMAD’s smaller stages. It was first used at Glastonbury before being rolled out at Massive Attack’s Act 1.5 event at Bristol’s Clifton Downs, and for the band’s show at AEG’s Lido festival in London last year.

WOMAD director Chris Smith, who spoke to AAA at length earlier this year about his plans to stage the 25,000-capacity event at Neston Park in Wiltshire for the first time, said the batteries will be used to power WOMAD’s main stage at the 23-26 July event, with wind turbines and solar panels used to replenish them.

“This is an exciting new landmark on our continuing journey to reduce WOMAD’s emissions and make the festival truly sustainable,” he said. “We’re all attuned to global events, particularly the impact the conflict in the Middle East is having on energy, and its knock-on effect on the cost of living. If we want this incredible festival to run for another 40 years, then we have to pursue and establish long-term solutions that power the event sustainably and reliably. We have a longstanding relationship with Ecotricity and Grid Faeries is building an impressive track record in powering major events using renewables, making them the perfect partner.”

A Greener Future co-founder Claire O’Neill said, “Grid Faeries are here to take diesel out of events. Our battery with additional solar and windmills replace more than 1200ltrs of diesel. To put it into perspective, that’s enough power to boil the equivalent of 30,000 kettles – enough for 120,000 cups of tea! With thousands of people attending events across the UK, it is essential that we reduce emissions and preserve the land in the best way possible.”

Among the acts scheduled to play WOMAD this year are Greentea Peng, Oumou Sangaré, Barrington Levy and José González.

LinkedIn