NXTGENbps Powers ITV Wales’ “Coast and Country” at WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre
When ITV Wales set out to film an episode of “Coast and Country” at the WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre, they faced a challenge: how to produce high-quality content while minimising their environmental impact. Determined to explore sustainable production methods, ITV Wales partnered with NXTGENbps to power the shoot using pure green energy. This collaboration not only aligned with their commitment to sustainability but also showcased how green energy can be seamlessly integrated into professional broadcasting. Read more >
NXTGENbps provides sustainable power to cover the motorsport of the future
NXTGENbps worked with hire partner High Viz Media (Group) ltd to provide all the shooting power required to cover the 2024 Formula Student. This showcase of future engineering took place at the home of UK motorsport, Silverstone. Read more >
Conservation work underway at Firestone Bridge
Did you know peatlands store over 30% of Earth’s soil carbon, despite covering only 3% of the surface? Join us in supporting the Firestone Bridge Conservation Project to restore these vital ecosystems! Your contributions will help fund essential research and crucial restoration work. Read more >
Product Highlights
The Fox S lightweight portable power solution
NXTGENbps Fox S 1kW/2.5Wh Portable Battery (PQ-066-FOX-S) is designed to provide portable electrical power up to a maximum of 16A, with a 230VAC industrial output. Made up of a self contained unit with integrated charger and LED indicator for state of charge, the unit has its own carry handles, pull-out extendable handle and wheels for added portability. Find out more >
When ITV Wales set out to film an episode of “Coast and Country” at the WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre, they faced a challenge: how to produce high-quality content while minimising their environmental impact. Determined to explore sustainable production methods, ITV Wales partnered with NXTGENbps to power the shoot using pure green energy. This collaboration not only aligned with their commitment to sustainability but also showcased how green energy can be seamlessly integrated into professional broadcasting.
Challenge
Filming in a remote location like the WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre naturally presents challenges. The shoot required reliable power in an area with limited access to traditional power sources, compounded by rugged terrain and heavy rainfall throughout the day. Additionally, as a wildlife and wetland centre, it was crucial to minimise disruption to the natural environment. These conditions could have posed significant obstacles, but the NXTGENbps Goat was more than up to the task. While there were initial reservations from the crew about whether battery power could meet the demands of all the broadcast equipment, especially given the high energy requirements typical of professional shoots, the Goat quickly dispelled these concerns.
Solution: The NXTGENbps Goat
The NXTGENbps Goat, a portable 5kW/4.8kWh power unit, was the ideal choice for this shoot. Built to withstand tough conditions, the Goat’s IP67 rating gave the crew complete confidence and ensured reliable operation despite the wet and challenging environment. Its compact and rugged design allowed it to perform flawlessly, even in the face of heavy rainfall and uneven terrain.
Zero Emissions: The Goat operates with zero emissions, perfectly aligning with ITV Wales’ sustainability goals.
Silent Operation: Silent operation was especially beneficial in the wetland setting, where minimising disruption to wildlife was a priority. By using a silent power source, the crew was able to capture high-quality footage without impacting the natural soundscape or disturbing the local wildlife, enhancing the overall production quality.
Reliability in Tough Conditions: The Goat’s rugged construction, coupled with its IP67 rating, meant it could withstand the challenging weather and terrain, delivering consistent power throughout the shoot.
Efficiency: Despite powering two Aputure 1200 lights for four hours and the autocue system for 90 minutes, only 12% of the Goat’s battery capacity was used, indicating that it had ample reserve power to handle additional equipment.
Environmental Benefits
The collaboration between ITV Wales and NXTGENbps on the “Coast and Country” shoot delivered clear environmental benefits. By choosing the zero-emission Goat, ITV Wales significantly reduced the production’s carbon footprint. The silent operation of the unit was especially valuable in a sensitive location like the wetland, meaning there was minimal disruption to wildlife, preserving the natural environment. This project demonstrated that pure green energy can seamlessly power professional broadcasting while enhancing the quality of production and protecting the surroundings.
“From ITV’s point of view our challenge was to broadcast our entire programme on location from the middle of a wetlands – but we needed safe power in this location that we could rely on. Conditions were very testing with torrential rain for most of the day – it was also impossible to drive a vehicle to location as we were working near walking paths.
It was important to us from the planning stage that our power came from the cleanest possible source – considering the location we were in – we wanted to cause as little disruption as possible to the birds in the habitat – we had to be as quiet and clean as possible. Using a diesel generator would have been an absolute no go for us in this environment. Jono and Lesley were instrumental from the very first stage in helping us assess our power requirement – and how we could work practically and safely in this environment. They understood the needs of sustainable TV production – and in our case the type of budgets we had to work with.
It was a pleasure working with them from the start and I’d recommend the service and battery generators to anyone in any other part of ITV News or the wider ITV community.”
Nia Britton, Operations Manager ITV Cymru Wales
Product Specification
The NXTGENbps Goat is designed to deliver portable electrical power up to 5kW/4.8kWh. The system features a built-in Pure Sine inverter, multiple power inputs (solar, DC, AC), and rapid charging capability via a Type 2 car charger.
Key features include:
5kW/4.8kWh Lithium-Ion Battery: Reliable and expandable power supply.
Solar Charging: Supports charging while in use.
Silent Operation: Ideal for noise-sensitive environments.
Zero Emissions: Supports carbon-neutral operations.
Robust Design: Suitable for various conditions and locations.
Fast Charging: Full charge in 45 minutes with a 7kW EV charger.
The success of the NXTGENbps Goat during ITV Wales’ “Coast and Country” shoot underscores how reliable and efficient battery-powered solutions can be, even in challenging conditions. ITV Wales’ dedication to sustainability, paired with NXTGENbps’s innovative power solutions, shows what’s possible when the industry embraces greener practices.
Hampton, London, UK, 31 July 2024: NXTGENbps, a pioneer in battery power solutions and a champion of sustainable energy, worked with High Viz Media (Group) ltd to provide all the shooting power required to cover the 2024 Formula Student. This showcase of future engineering took place at the home of UK motorsport, Silverstone.
Formula Student was established more than 25 years ago by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. To compete, teams of students have to build a fully-functional car which competes in a series of stringent tests. A panel of expert judges also evaluates the innovation in engineering, with heavy emphasis on sustainability, including electric power. The 2024 event attracted 180 teams, with more than a thousand students involved.
The events of the Formula Student weekend were streamed live, including a marathon eight and a half hour broadcast on Saturday 20 July. Providing coverage was High Viz Media. Founder and MD Nick Collier said “Our brief was to provide high production values – but without the budget of a Formula 1 meet.
“The event is very fast moving,” he explained. “These courses test the agility, endurance and speed of the cars – and they are very fast indeed. For us, it meant continually resetting to different locations to get the cameras where they were needed.”
To simplify the continual re-rigging, High Viz Media elected to power all the cameras using the NXTGENbps Goat portable power unit. This is a practical but very powerful battery built into a rugged cart, making it simple to move to where you need it.
The Goat provides 5 kw, with a basic capacity of 4.8 kWh expandable up to 139.2 kWh. It can be charged from any power source, including electric vehicle chargers and solar panels. The purpose-built inverter generates a pure sine wave to eliminate the risk to sensitive equipment.
“It powered our multi-camera weekend on a single charge,” said Collier. “Even without the solar panels the Goat operated for two days without any significant degradation.”
Collier also emphasised that taking power to the shoot meant there was no need to run power cables around the track, greatly simplifying the risk assessment and making the crew much more agile. The NXTGENbps solution allowed for safer and more flexible placement of power close to the broadcast equipment, enhancing overall efficiency without impacting the quality of the shoot.
Lesley Marr, Director or Sustainability from NXTGENbps said “Seeing our flagship product used in an event like Formula Student demonstrates the real-world impact of our sustainable energy solutions. The Goat provided consistent and reliable power throughout the event, meeting all the demands of the High Viz Media team seamlessly and with minimal environmental impact.”
