How Amazon Used Solar Power on the Set of Fallout Season Two

Season Two of Fallout, a television series produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Kilter Films, takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland after a nuclear war.

However, the show’s team is adapting to the challenges of the changing environment by using new sustainability technology.

Amazon aimed to replace generators on set, to eliminate emissions from the typically energy-demanding filming process.

Fallout’s generator-free basecamp

The Fallout team piloted a generator-free basecamp to provide electricity for the set while filming the show’s second season.

This was a first for Amazon MGM Studios and is an emerging technology for the broader film industry, as companies aim to reduce the environmental impact of shooting.

According to the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, the average carbon footprint of producing one episode of an hour-long scripted drama is around 105.4 metric tons.

This is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 25 gas-powered passenger vehicles.

Fuel consumption is the leading source of emissions across feature shows and series productions, accounting for between 34% and 65% of total emissions.

Katherine Braver, Global Production Sustainability Project Manager at Amazon, says: “One of the biggest challenges of film production is that we have to bring our power everywhere with us.

“Film productions can’t plug all of their lights and equipment into house power if they are filming in the middle of a city and we film in areas that have no power whatsoever, so we basically bring our own little power plants everywhere we go.

“Historically, these power plants are diesel-running generators.”

Using solar energy to power production

The diesel from generators and vehicles is the most carbon-intensive part of a production.

This is why Amazon instead opted to use a Solar Ring system, which is a network of trailers with solar panels that feed into a central electric power station.

The Solar Ring system, developed by GreenLite Trailers, supplied approximately 4,952 kilowatt hours of energy over the course of the 20 week trial on the set of Fallout.

At certain times during production, the system produced enough energy to power other trailers in the basecamp that were not equipped with solar panels.

Amazon aimed to prove that this solar panel technology was able to power electric vehicles and heavy equipment in any production conditions, like the remote, desert location of Fallout.

As well as lowering emissions, the electric power station had benefits including being much quieter than traditional generators and not polluting the air with particulate matter, unlike diesel generators.

Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, said on LinkedIn: “It’s not just about cutting carbon – it’s also about improving the work environment for cast and crew.

“Replacing noisy generators made for quieter sets and cleaner air.

“We’re just getting started, but the future of entertainment includes more sustainable productions and I’m here for it!”

How is Amazon funding sustainable technologies?

The use of these innovative solar technologies are part of Amazon’s broader commitment to sustainability throughout its operations.

The company aims to reach net zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040, through investing in carbon-free energy, scaling solutions and collaborating with partners to broaden its impact.

Amazon’s commitment to sustainable filming productions extends beyond Fallout, using hydrogen fuel to charge batteries in some sets in the United Kingdom.

The company has also invested in multiple battery systems in its productions, using its sustainability research and development fund.

Through the fund, it aims to take opportunities to deploy and test the capabilities of sustainable technologies in different environments of film production.

Sachi Gera, Business Operations and Sustainability Lead at Amazon Studios, says: “The purpose of this fund is to trial cleaner tech solutions on productions to see what works across sustainability, budget and operational considerations.

“As we learn more, we move into investing in promising technology for use across productions.”