Green power: Humber Street Sesh slashes carbon emissions by 90 per cent
SHOW-STOPPERS: Top Hull band Bunkerpop performing at Humber Street Sesh. Picture by Phil McCoy Photography
By Simon Bristow
This summer’s Humber Street Sesh will be the greenest yet after slashing its carbon emissions by a staggering 90 per cent.
Organisers of the annual music festival say it will be powered by renewable green fuel, as it transitions from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to generate power.
The move to HVO will reduce the event’s carbon emissions by 90 per cent.
JR Rix & Sons Ltd, in support of the festival’s ambitions for green power, have agreed to supply the festival with discounted HVO, and have calculated the environmental impact of using the green fuel.
Carbon analysts at Rix estimate that last year Humber Street Sesh produced 3,302 kgs of carbon emissions using diesel. Switching to HVO to generate the same amount of power will reduce the festival’s carbon emissions to just 46 kgs.
This analysis has been validated by the festival’s principal partners and founding members of the Oh Yes! Net Zero Campaign, the University of Hull; whose researchers agree that a 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions will be effected by the transition to HVO.
The HVO supplied by Rix is ethically sourced and made of 100 per cent renewable resources, chiefly recycled vegetable oil. This green alternative to fossil fuel will power all stages, bars, and lighting across Humber Street Sesh 2023, resulting in a massive reduction in the festival’s carbon footprint.
Harry Rix, Chief Digital Officer of JR Rix & Sons Ltd said: “Rix are proud to be supporting the festival, along with other businesses across the country, to transition to a lower carbon energy generation. When the team got in touch, we investigated a range of solutions such as solar powered generators supplied by Rix Energy Services through to lower carbon fuels from Rix Petroleum.
“It became apparent that the most operationally viable and cost-effective route to reducing CO2e for the event was switching to HVO fuel.”
Briony McDonagh, Interim Director of the University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute and Professor of Environmental Humanities, said: “We are delighted to support Humber Street Sesh as it moves towards being a more sustainable festival.
PACKED: About 18,000 people attend the festival each year. Picture by Jason Shipley Photography
“As a founding member of the Oh Yes! Net Zero Campaign, the University of Hull, is committed to helping other events and businesses in our region in their journey towards net zero. At the university, we are also on track with an ambitious plan to become carbon neutral by 2027.
“We wish Humber Street Sesh every success as it celebrates its tenth year on the marina this summer.”
Festival Director Dave Mays said “The University of Hull who support the festival’s bamboo wristbands and the Main Stage, encouraged us to join the Oh Yes! Net Zero Campaign.
“We signed up in 2022 and it made us take a critical look at the festival’s practices and identify our biggest carbon emitter – diesel generators. Working with fellow members of the campaign, Rix and the University of Hull, we have achieved our ambitious decarbonisation goal this year. This is a milestone event in our sustainability journey, coinciding with our tenth anniversary on Hull Marina.”
In addition to using green fuel, the festival continues to utilise solar power for the Youth Stage, supported by Wilberforce College since 2018.
Festival organisers are also working on a sustainable travel plan with Hull Trains who sponsor the Dead Bod Stage, and other transport operators alongside Hull City Council, in a bid to encourage people to ditch their cars and use public transport. Details will be announced soon and be available on the festival website.
The festival attracts an audience of about 18,000 people to Hull Marina and takes place this year on August 12, from noon to 11pm, marking its tenth anniversary. It sold out last year.
It will showcase over 100 acts and shine a light on emerging artists, as well as featuring aspirational acts from further afield.
The event will continue to offer family fun, including the much-loved Silent Disco and Team Extreme Skate Park, Hip Hop Amphitheatre with Beats Bus, ScrapStore Creative Arts Marquee, photography exhibitions, flash mob dances and street entertainers.
Admissions costs £15 (plus booking fee) with advance wristband purchase available from Social on Humber Street every Saturday and every day in the week prior to August 12.
See our exclusive interview with Festival Director Mark “Mak” Page here.
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