Restoring Nature at Firestone Bridge: One Year of Progress

At NXTGENbps, we believe sustainability goes beyond clean energy generation – it’s about supporting the ecosystems that sustain us all. That’s why last year we partnered with the Firestone Bridge Conservation Project, an initiative led by James McAleer to restore a degraded industrial landscape in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

As a company dedicated to renewable power solutions, we recognise that truly sustainable practices require looking beyond technology alone. Peatlands like those at Firestone Bridge are among the planet’s most effective carbon sinks – when healthy, they capture and store more carbon per hectare than forests. By supporting their restoration, we’re investing in natural climate solutions that complement the clean energy work we do every day. 

What was once a lead mine and Victorian council tip is being transformed into a thriving ecosystem, helping preserve vital peatland and biodiversity for generations to come. Now over twelve months on, remarkable progress has been made – powered in part by clean energy from NXTGENbps battery systems. 

Powering Regeneration 

Sustainable restoration in such a remote environment brings its own challenges. With no access to mains electricity, traditional generators would risk undoing the very environmental gains the project aims to achieve. Instead, Firestone Bridge runs on portable NXTGENbps batteries, providing reliable, zero-emission power for equipment, irrigation, lighting, and monitoring tools used on site. 

This clean energy support has allowed James and his team to conduct surveys, operate essential tools, and even power the early stages of the new reservoir and sphagnum moss farm without relying on fossil fuels – keeping the project’s carbon footprint low from the ground up. 

Rebuilding the Landscape 

A key milestone has been the creation of a new reservoir, diverting water away from contaminated mine spoil and back through its original wetland route – as shown on maps dating back centuries. This allows rainwater to slow naturally, reducing flood risk downstream while supporting the irrigation of the site’s forthcoming sphagnum moss farm, essential for peatland regeneration and carbon capture. 

Other recent developments include: 

  • Revetment construction to prevent erosion and protect the river from polluted materials. 
  • Leaky dam installation to manage water flow and encourage habitat formation. 
  • Soil recreation and bio-crusting trials, exploring new ways to stabilise contaminated ground and encourage plant growth. 
  • Archaeological research uncovering historic mine workings dating to the Middle Ages, linking environmental restoration with cultural preservation. 

Universities, including researchers from Newcastle University, are now using the site for PhD studies focused on soil regeneration and ecosystem restoration – evidence of Firestone Bridge’s growing scientific and educational importance. 

Our Continued Support 

Our ongoing involvement in the Firestone Bridge Conservation Project reflects more than our commitment to sustainable power – it’s part of our belief that technology and nature can work together to create real, lasting change. By supplying clean, portable energy where it’s needed most, we’re helping enable projects like this to operate entirely off-grid, proving that renewable power can drive both environmental progress and practical results. 

To learn more or support the next phase of the project, visit Firestone Bridge Conservation Project on Instagram – and if you can, please consider donating to support this work. 

NXTGENbps Brings Sustainability and Industry Insight to Sky

Exploring Innovation, Technology and Sustainability in Broadcast Production

The NXTGENbps | BPS Kit Expo @ Sky brought together leading voices from across the broadcast and production industry to explore how innovation, technology, and sustainability are reshaping the way content is created and delivered.

Hosted by NXTGENbps at Sky’s headquarters, the event featured three panels chaired by broadcaster Nadine Dereza, with experts from across the industry.

Each discussion offered a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities driving modern media production — from post-IBC insights to the technologies redefining live broadcasting and the urgent need for sustainable change.

Below, you can watch the full recordings of all three sessions.


The Craft of Making Content Sustainably

Panel Discussion on Greener Productions

What are the real challenges facing content creators in reducing carbon impact, and how can the industry accelerate change?

This insightful discussion features sustainability leaders exploring practical steps and collective action toward greener production practices.

Panel:
• Nadine Dereza – Broadcaster and Presenter (Chair)
• Lesley Marr – Sustainability Director, NXTGENbps
• Dee Davison – Director, Beyond Zero Ventures
• Mandy Cayford – Sustainability Advisor, Picture Zero
• Crispin Hardy – Founder, Location One


How Tech is Reshaping Live Broadcasting

Panel Discussion on Technology Driving Modern Live Production

How is technology driving change in live broadcast production?

This panel brings together leading voices from Sky Sports, Formula E and Limitless Broadcast to discuss how innovation is transforming workflows, enhancing storytelling, and redefining the viewer experience.

Panel:
• Nadine Dereza – Broadcaster and Presenter (Chair)
• Jennie Blackmore – Head of Production, Sky Sports
• Toby Jenn – Snr Broadcast Operations Manager, Formula E
• Claire Wilkie – Founder and CEO, Limitless Broadcast


IBC2025 Recap – What Caught My Eye and Why

Fireside Chat on Key Broadcast Innovations and IBC Takeaways

Join Nadine Dereza in conversation with Sarah Adams, Operational Technical Specialist at Sky Sports, as they discuss standout innovations from IBC2025 and their impact on production today.

This fireside chat explores emerging trends, practical takeaways, and the technologies shaping the next phase of broadcast operations.

Speakers:
• Nadine Dereza – Broadcaster and Presenter
• Sarah Adams – Operational Technical Specialist, Sky Sports


Shop Sustainable Battery Power

Power your production with clean, silent energy. NXTGENbps provides reliable battery systems for film, TV, events and a wide range of applications. A smarter alternative to diesel, designed for off grid and on-location use.

If you would like to find out more about our range of silent, zero emission battery solutions, you can contact our team or browse the range in our online shop.

Powering Sproud’s Coffee Van Roadshow 

Sustainable Power for a Plant-Based Brand 

Sproud, a plant-based milk brand recognised for its commitment to sustainability, launched a nationwide supermarket roadshow to introduce shoppers to their products by serving free coffees made with Sproud. 

For a campaign like this, a battery-powered solution made sense: it’s quiet, easy to deploy, and avoids the fumes and emissions of diesel generators. NXTGENbps worked with Sproud to identify the most efficient and reliable setup to keep the coffee van running throughout long days on the road. 

Understanding the Challenge 

The coffee van needed enough power to run for long days – typically nine-hour shifts with around eight hours of service. It had to power two espresso machines, grinders, fridges, lights, and flow jets, all while being reliable and straightforward to deploy at each site. 

Testing the Right Setup 

To provide the most efficient power solution, we carried out detailed testing to ensure it would meet the demands. 

  • Starting with the 5kWh Goat battery, we powered all equipment. After the initial heat-up, the charge dropped from 100% to 87%. 
  • In service, making two drinks at a time used around 1% of the battery, equating to roughly 200 drinks over three hours. 
  • To cover the full nine-hour shifts – often producing up to 600 drinks – we paired the Goat with the Billy Goat expansion pack, increasing total capacity to 14.6kWh. 

This combination provided a practical and reliable power source that could handle a full day’s service without interruption. 

On the Road 

With the battery solution in place, Sproud’s coffee van has been visiting supermarkets across the UK, serving hundreds of coffees each day and allowing shoppers to taste their plant-based milk – all powered by clean, quiet battery energy.

 To find out more about our sustainable battery power solutions, contact our team today!