Hydrogen Power in the Events Industry: BST Hyde Park and LIDO Festival 2025
Suzanne Johnson is a Senior Site Manager at LS Events, leading on American Express presents BST Hyde Park, one of London’s most prolific live music events with a strong track record in sustainable innovation. Starting out as a freelancer in the supply chain, Suzanne has built her dream career in site management, with experience spanning All Points East, St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade, and Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square. Most recently, she played a pivotal role in trialling green hydrogen at BST, and has shared her insights on the learnings, challenges, and opportunities this emerging energy source presents for event organisers.
“As festivals strive to reduce their environmental impact, green hydrogen power is emerging as a viable alternative to diesel generators. For inner-city events in particular, this technology presents both exciting opportunities and practical challenges. This case study explores how LS Events has unlocked green hydrogen’s potential in the live events sector, drawing on real-world trials at LIDO Festival and American Express Presents BST Hyde Park to enable our client AEG Presents to deliver two of London’s most sustainable festivals yet. Using green hydrogen in this way is an event industry-first.
Green hydrogen fuel cells provide a clean, quiet, and practical power solution for events. Generating only water vapour, they supported air quality in an urban setting while also helping organisers comply with strict city noise regulations. Beyond their environmental advantages, the visible use of green hydrogen technology can strengthen community relations, attract eco-conscious partners, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability. From a practical standpoint, the modular and flexible nature of hydrogen systems means they can be deployed across a variety of locations, from backstage areas to main stages, ensuring reliable performance throughout the event.
Case in Practice: American Express present BST Hyde Park Trial
In summer 2025, AEG Presents partnered with GeoPura and Power Logistics to trial hydrogen power at American Express Presents BST Hyde Park. The test involved supplying energy to the Great Oak Stage, the delays, and the production village across two consecutive shows: All Things Orchestral and Neil Young. As the lead production agency for the event, LS Events managed the complex relationships between suppliers to ensure the successful delivery of this innovative sustainable power source. While new to the event industry, green hydrogen power technology has existing applications in government infrastructure and across the public sector. Using green hydrogen power in this way on an event site required an extensive reassurance piece with local authorities and the fire service, supported by industry experts.
Deployment
Equipment: Six HPU 1 green hydrogen units and a fuel tanker were installed on the main stage pad during an Open House day when the stage was not in use.
Planning: Unit numbers were determined using historical consumption data. New screen and sound systems introduced some uncertainty, but close collaboration between GeoPura, Power Logistics, and the BST production team ensured careful load management.
Installation: Switchover from generator power to green hydrogen was completed within a single day.
Results
Performance: Both shows ran smoothly, with no supply interruptions.
Demand Factors: Hot, bright weather increased demand, as screens ran at maximum brightness and additional cooling was required. This led to higher fuel consumption, but the hydrogen system successfully met demand.
Transition: After the Neil Young performance, the system was switched back to HVO-fuelled generators within four hours.
Key Challenges & Learnings
The transition to green hydrogen power is not without its challenges. Higher costs compared to diesel, limited refuelling infrastructure, and the logistical demands of storage and delivery on compact urban sites all present barriers.
Space constraints proved the most significant obstacle during this trial. Hydrogen units and storage require substantial room, and at BST, available space is already tight. The trial was only feasible because the two shows had relatively few touring trucks. Larger or longer-term hydrogen deployment would require redesigning site layouts or securing additional land.
Safety requirements also call for specialist training and strict protocols, while the events industry’s deep-rooted reliance on diesel means new expertise, supplier partnerships, and hybrid solutions are often necessary.
However, these challenges also highlight opportunities. While green hydrogen is unlikely to replace diesel across entire sites in the short term, it can already deliver meaningful impact in targeted applications—such as VIP areas, community or demonstration stages, and locations with strict emissions or noise restrictions. As costs fall and supply chains expand, green hydrogen has the potential to become a mainstream power solution for sustainable festivals, particularly in urban environments, positioning early adopters at the forefront of innovation and climate responsibility.
The BST Hyde Park trial demonstrated that it is possible to power main-stage performances with zero emissions green hydrogen technology. Success depended on strong collaboration between organisers, suppliers, and technology partners and transparent data sharing to manage load and consumption.
The time and investment required for such a sustainable approach could be easily overlooked. LS Events' prior experience from BST Hyde Park provided a crucial starting point for data and understanding of energy usage, but developing systems for these events still involved significant learning.
AEG's commitment to enabling this "proof of concept" festival, has significantly contributed to the industry's understanding of sustainable practices empowering an incredible step forward in the delivery of sustainable events in the future.
While widespread adoption faces barriers, green hydrogen’s potential in the events industry is clear. Targeted applications, combined with growing investment and falling costs, suggest that green hydrogen could become a cornerstone of powering sustainable festivals in urban settings.”
To read more about LS Events deployment of green hydrogen, head to our full LIDO Festival case study at https://www.ls.uk/lido
