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Case study: A sustainable production

Admin Locamundo
2025-08-18

Case Study: Greener Power on Set — How Ransom Canyon Halved Diesel Use with Solar & Batteries

In film production we’ve long treated diesel generators like trusty character actors: always on call, always the same performance. They start, they “just work,” and they sing that familiar 60-hertz lullaby no sound mixer ever asked for. Times are changing. Productions that blend old-school craft with new-school gear are proving that silent battery stacks and solar can shoulder much of the load—cutting emissions, reducing noise, and restoring a little peace to basecamp.

Why energy on location decides your footprint

The location department’s early choices—site, power source, and logistics—drive transport miles, noise, and fuel use. Prioritize grid power, batteries, and solar over diesel and you move the single biggest emissions lever in the right direction—without sacrificing reliability. (Granddad’s rule still applies: measure twice, power once.)

Case study: Ransom Canyon (Netflix) — basecamp on solar & batteries

In New Mexico, the production ran its basecamp on solar and batteries for extended periods and used mobile battery stacks to cover peak loads.

Reported outcome: Over 50% less diesel burned overall—night work got quieter, tempers cooler, and locations happier.

Watch the short case film:
Ransom Canyon | Sustainability on Set

The solution in brief

  • Primary power: Solar + batteries for basecamp (day/night).

  • Flexible mix: Mobile battery containers/stacks moved to the load—instead of firing up diesel.

  • Silent running: Battery “gensets” are nearly noiseless—better for dialogue and neighbor relations.

Results

  • >50% less diesel (basecamp + equipment).

  • Less noise, better working conditions.

  • Stable supply via planned charging windows and correct sizing.

Lesson learned: Tackle fuel first. It’s often the biggest climate factor—and the win shows up immediately in workflow and morale.

How to replicate it — production checklist

Pre-production

  • Measure real loads (kW/kWh) for trailers, offices, and lighting—don’t guess.

  • Design the hybrid microgrid: battery capacity, peak power, solar area, and any grid tie-in.

  • Plan charging windows (night/off-peak and daylight).

  • Place smartly: avoid panel shading; route cabling without blocking logistics.

During the shoot

  • Make diesel the last resort: run basecamp on solar/battery.

  • Deploy mobile batteries to hot spots near camera/lighting where long cable runs are impractical.

  • Log everything: kWh, state of charge (SoC), and charge times—adjust from day two onward.

Plan B

  • Hybrid mode: a small peak generator catches rare surges; batteries/solar handle the rest.

  • Sound & neighbors: create quiet zones—here batteries win every time.

What this means for Location & Electric

  • Site selection: space for solar trailers, safe cable runs, and, ideally, a grid hook-up.

  • Permits & neighbors: silent power = fewer complaints and smoother approvals.

  • Cost logic: less fuel + less night staffing at noisy gensets can offset battery rental. Electricity costs planning, diesel costs… diesel.

Who’s leading the way?

  • United Kingdom: BAFTA’s Albert standard made sustainability routine; BBC, Sky, and Netflix UK have piloted battery-powered basecamps.

  • USA (California/New York): “Silent sets” with grid-charged battery stacks; green incentives via film commissions.

  • Canada (Vancouver/Toronto): Frequent use of battery gensets; city partnerships for charging.

  • France: CNC climate reporting accelerates hybrid solutions, especially in Paris.

  • Netherlands: Early adopters of battery containers thanks to deep festival/event experience.

  • Denmark & Norway: Pilots with battery basecamps and fossil-free transport, often with public support.

What they share: clear standards/incentives, access to rental gear, municipal support (grid access/noise rules), and know-how carried over from the events world.

Rental companies (global selection)

Action tip — create demand locally

If a rental house says, “There’s no demand for battery or solar,” the correct reply is, “There is now.”
When producers, location managers, and scouts ask for green power, suppliers recalibrate their business case. Demand appears the moment you voice it—and grows when several productions do it at once. (Old truth, new tools.)

Bonus: when virtual production pays off

LED volume/VP reduces emissions when it replaces flights, hotels, and heavy logistics—not when it’s a shiny add-on. Always run the full, per-scene calculation.

Conclusion — old-school craft, new tools

This isn’t a change of heart; it’s an upgrade of the toolkit. With careful planning, proper measurement, and the right rental partners, you can do what you’ve always done—only quieter, cleaner, and, over time, cheaper. The sound department will thank you. So will the neighbors.

See how Ransom Canyon did it:
Ransom Canyon | Sustainability on Set (YouTube)

Sources & Further Reading

  • Netflix Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report 2024 – Official corporate sustainability reporting.
    PDF Link

  • Netflix Sustainability Instagram Post – Case study highlight from Ransom Canyon.
    Instagram

  • Green Production Guide – Industry-standard resources and best practices for sustainable production.
    greenproductionguide.com

  • Albert – BAFTA’s Sustainability Initiative – UK-based leader in film/TV sustainability standards.
    wearealbert.org

  • Variety – Coverage of Hollywood’s transition to battery-powered sets.
    Variety Article

  • Evercast Blog – Virtual scouting and digital collaboration in production.
    evercast.us/blog

  • Massif Network – AI in pre-production and sustainable scouting tools.
    massifnetwork.com

  • Ischia Film Festival – Aenaria Prize – International recognition of locations and sustainability.
    ischiafilmfestival.it

  • Green Spark Group – Global consultants for sustainability in film and TV.
    greensparkgroup.com

Tag: sustainable film production, green filming, eco-friendly film sets, battery powered film equipment, solar power on set, hybrid film generators, Ransom Canyon Netflix case study, location sustainability, film production case study, green location departments, sustainable energy in film, renewable power for film productions, sustainable, film, locamundo

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