As a provider of mobile energy solutions, Greener Power Solutions has been helping festivals reduce their environmental using advanced battery systems including Alfen technology. For the renowned Dutch festival Into The Great Wide Open (ITGWO) on the island of Vlieland, the organisers set an ambitious goal: to make the entire festival setup and breakdown process emission-free. In the middle of a protected natural environment, this was a remarkable sustainability ambition. But how do you achieve this without a direct grid connection? Through an innovative combination of battery swapping, hydrogen power, and solar energy. 

From Temporary Location to Lasting Experience 

Greener’s roots lie in the festival industry, but the company has since expanded into the construction sector. According to Dieter Castelein, former CEO of Greener, festivals and construction sites share an important characteristic: they are temporary environments where everything must be built from the ground up. 

For ITGWO, this meant not only providing power for the festival itself, but also supplying electricity for all equipment used during setup and dismantling. 

Dieter Castelein explains: “ITGWO is a fantastic partner because they are willing to take more risks, allowing us to develop innovations that we can also apply in the construction industry.” 

The Challenge 

For its latest edition, ITGWO wanted the entire setup and breakdown process to be carried out without emissions. This required a wide range of electric construction equipment, including forklifts and articulated loaders. 

While electric machinery offers clean and efficient operation, it also requires regular charging. Every event organiser and contractor knows that charging electric equipment takes time and can interrupt work if sufficient power is not available. 

A robust and reliable energy supply was therefore essential to keep the many construction machines operating efficiently and minimise downtime. However, the nearest grid connection was located at a marina some distance from the festival site, meaning stored energy had to be transported to the festival location. 

The Solution 

Using Alfen batteries as a core component, Greener developed an integrated energy solution built around five 422 kWh battery systems. 

Two of these batteries were used in a battery swapping configuration. One battery was charged at the nearby marina and then transported electrically to the festival site, where it discharged its energy into the second battery. This ensured a continuous supply of electricity without the need for long power cables or diesel generators. 

The remaining three batteries were interconnected using Greener’s GridSync inverter, enabling them to operate as a single microgrid. Connected to this microgrid were a hydrogen generator from Watermeln and solar panels from Volta, which helped recharge the batteries and further increase the share of renewable energy. 

All electric construction equipment could be charged through this centralised energy hub, known as the Energy Bar. 

During the multi-day festival, the Energy Bar also supplied electricity for sound systems, lighting installations, and other festival infrastructure, creating a fully integrated and sustainable energy ecosystem. 

The Benefits 

The solution enabled ITGWO to achieve its ambition of carrying out festival setup and breakdown activities without local emissions, significantly reducing the environmental impact of the event. 

By combining battery storage, hydrogen power, and solar generation, Greener created a resilient off-grid energy system capable of supporting both construction activities and festival operations. The battery swapping concept ensured continuous power availability while avoiding lengthy charging interruptions for equipment. 

The project also demonstrated how advanced energy storage technologies can replace traditional diesel-powered solutions, reducing emissions, noise pollution, and environmental disturbance in sensitive natural surroundings. 

Beyond the festival sector, the innovations developed for ITGWO have proven valuable for other temporary energy applications, particularly in construction projects where grid access is limited or unavailable. 

Future Opportunities 

The success of the ITGWO project highlights the growing role of mobile energy storage in enabling emission-free temporary operations. The combination of battery storage, renewable generation, and alternative energy sources such as hydrogen creates a flexible blueprint for sustainable energy supply wherever grid access is constrained. 

For Greener, innovations developed in the festival sector continue to create opportunities in construction, infrastructure, and other industries facing similar energy challenges. Technologies such as battery swapping and mobile microgrids can help accelerate the transition away from diesel generators while maintaining the reliability and flexibility required for demanding operations. 

Today, Greener Mobile Power Solutions are a familiar presence at an increasing number of outdoor festivals. In addition, Greener provides mobile battery systems for construction and infrastructure projects, grid services, EV charging, rental companies, and shore power applications. 

As demand for clean, flexible energy continues to grow, projects such as ITGWO demonstrate how mobile battery solutions can enable sustainable operations in even the most remote and environmentally sensitive locations.