Massive Attack’s ACT 1.5 legacy drives Bristol’s clean energy events pilot
Massive Attack's CT 1.5 show inspires new clean energy pilot in Bristol.
Bristol will launch a new clean energy pilot in summer 2026, building on the low-emissions model introduced by Massive Attack’s ACT 1.5 show on Clifton Downs in 2024.
The initiative will provide renewable power to more than 20 major public events, including music festivals, cultural gatherings, and film and TV productions.
The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Bristol City Council are partnering with ACT 1.5, Grid Faeries, Ecotricity, GeoPura, and Zenobe to deliver a mobile clean power hub. The pilot will run from May to September and aims to eliminate diesel generators from council-permitted events.
ACT 1.5 producer Mark Donne said the programme introduces “an entirely new, viable model” for powering large-scale events, describing it as both a climate and public health strategy.
Council leader Tony Dyer confirmed the trial supports Bristol’s net-zero targets and complements wider efforts to reduce emissions across the city’s event venues. Plans are underway to expand green mains power access beyond the Amphitheatre to eight additional sites.
West of England Mayor Helen Godwin said the partnership reflects the region’s commitment to both environmental and cultural growth. Clean energy providers involved in the pilot highlighted the role of battery and green hydrogen technologies in replacing diesel and improving air quality.
Massive Attack’s 2024 performance was the first of its kind to fully decarbonise a major UK festival, and the 2026 pilot aims to scale that approach across Bristol’s summer programme.
