This year's Electric Picnic is planning to be the first festival in Ireland and the UK to connect to the grid and use renewable energy on the main stage.
It marks the first time the three-day event in Stradbally Co Laois on 16 to 18 August will install mains power to reduce its carbon footprint.
Promoters Festival Republic say they are submitting a planning application for a substation and if successful, work will begin later this year on delivering grid power to the main stage - "marking the transition of the outdoor live sector to renewable power".
The festival will be seeking an energy supply that allows it to benefit from Ireland’s expanding renewable energy generation, in particular onshore wind energy and the large-scale solar projects that are being developed around the country.
Promotors say the grid connection will ensure the festival is 'plugged in’ to new developments in Ireland’s ever-diversifying renewable energy transition.
The grid power will ultimately reduce carbon emissions associated with powering the main stage of the festival in 2024 and reduce the need to use temporary generators.
Festival Republic’s Green Nation Charter aims to transition to powering festivals with 100% renewable power by 2030.
Organisers have been working closely with Stradbally landowner Thomas Cosby and a network provider to supply a connection large enough to power the Electric Picnic main stage for the duration of the festival.
"This Festival Republic initiative ties in well with the estate's programme towards carbon neutrality," Mr Crosby said.
"It complements our existing renewable energy installations, including biomass, hydroelectric, solar and sustainable forestry management."
Melvin Benn, Managing Director Festival Republic, added, "The installation of our first grid connection is a key contributor to our goal of reducing carbon emissions associated with the festival by 50% by 2030 in line with our Green Nation Charter.
"I hope that by leading the way and sharing what we have learned, festival goers can have an amazing time at Electric Picnic safe in the knowledge that we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on the only planet we have got."
More music news, reviews and interviews here
