Royal International Air Tattoo 2023
Powering the world's largest annual military air show is no mean feat. With over 200,000 people attending the event, including members of the Royal Family, and 253 aircraft from 25 nations at this year’s show, 2023 was no exception.
In this case study, we will explore the challenges we faced at an event on this scale as well as the solutions and savings we provided to contribute towards making the event a success.
The Challenge:
The primary challenge to the project was the sheer size of the event, the site was approximately 1,200 acres which included an active runway in the middle of the site, so project management was key. As well as the numerous stands on spread across the site, there was also a welfare area for volunteer staff, including accommodation, showers, and kitchens.
On top of this RIAT was working towards achieving an ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) for event sustainability. For this reason, the show runners were looking to reduce the show’s carbon footprint as well as save money through lower fuel usage.
“Working closely with RIAT each year is always great especially when helping them achieve their sustainability goals. The combination of BES units and HVO was an ideal solution for this event, saving the customer the cost on fuel and additional generators.”
The Solution:
In order to cater to such a large event, a combination of 150 units were used, including generators, Battery Energy Storage (BES) units, and hybrid tower lights. The addition of BES units resulted in a reduction in the number of generators on site and their run time. The BES units had a combined total energy storage of 1.2MWh and using them resulted in a saving of over 25,000 litres of diesel compared to 2022.
The welfare area had the largest savings on the site as BES units were able to assist with the peak loads at mealtimes and handle the low loads in the evening and overnight. The team were also able to establish a peak shaving of the mains supply setup to the hospitality area, which took away the need for a generator for the Gala dinner at the event.
To reduce RIAT’s carbon footprint even further, Power Electrics supplied the entire site with HVO Green D+ fuel which reduces carbon emissions, nitrogen oxides and particulates being released into the atmosphere.
