AEG Europe has signed a landmark agreement that will make its UK venues the first in the industry to run on the country’s greenest energy.
The new supply agreement combines PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) with a 100% renewable energy supply, backed by hourly-matched REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin), through a collaboration with Ecotricity.
The PPAs allocate specific renewable energy assets to AEG’s portfolio of live entertainment venues in the UK, including The O2, Indigo at The O2, Eventim Apollo, Watford Colosseum and University of Wolverhampton at The Halls.
“These venues will operate predominantly off the deepest green energy generated by solar and hydro assets, which not only provide the highest level of transparency, but withstands audit-level scrutiny,” said a statement.
Within the live industry and beyond, AEG’s investment accelerates the growth of renewable energy on the National Grid.
Sam Booth, AEG Europe’s director of sustainability, said: “PPAs are widely recognised as the gold standard in energy procurement, and we’re proud to play a role in launching this first-of-its-kind agreement. It marks a significant milestone in the ongoing journey to decarbonise the live entertainment industry, and we’re pleased to help drive this progress.”
It marks a significant milestone in the ongoing journey to decarbonise the live entertainment industry, and we’re pleased to help drive this progress
Sam Booth
Dale Vince, founder at Ecotricity, said: “This is big news for live music, as venues across Britain – including London’s iconic The O2 – will be powered by deep green energy. AEG have already been working with us to bring clean power to outdoor festivals like All Points East and Lido earlier this summer, with our Grid Faeries x Ecotricity battery. Now they’re going even further – bringing green power indoors. It’s a major step forward, and a proper milestone on the road to greening up the live entertainment world.”
AEG initiatives include the world’s first carbon removed events at The O2 in February 2024 which saw the extraction of 545.9 tonnes of carbon across four shows – the equivalent yearly electricity usage of 395 average homes.
Across its network of venues, AEG Europe is making investments in sustainable initiatives, including lower-carbon food menus, permanent reusable cup schemes and cup-washing machines, biodegradable serve ware and several other carbon-reduction projects.
These efforts also extend to AEG’s festivals, where several initiatives have helped to reduce environmental impacts and helped educate attendees, including a carbon labelling programme for food vendors.
PHOTO: The O2 by Luke Dyson
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