NBCU Targets On-Set Diesel With New Solar-Powered Trailer Fleet
Universal Production Services, a unit of NBCUniversal, has signed an agreement with Hollywood Trucks Technologies to deploy a fleet of solar-powered, off-grid Ecoluxe brand trailers for its studio operations. The trailers are designed to reduce reliance on diesel generators by generating, storing, and distributing their own energy, while also providing amenities like Starlink WiFi and EV chargers. The first deployments have begun at the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles.
Key Takeaways
- The 53-foot Ecoluxe trailers pair 1.2 MWh of battery storage with 18 kW of solar power and feature vehicle-to-grid capability to export power.
- Trailers are offered at competitive market rates, intended to lower overall production expense by bundling power, WiFi, and EV charging, reducing separate rentals.
- Each unit is controlled via the 'Aurora' dashboard, which provides eco-data reporting and over-the-air operational control.
- The solar trailers are already in use on Universal Television productions like 'Hacks' and 'Dig', confirming deployment beyond the pilot phase.
Why It Matters
This initiative gives NBCUniversal a practical tool for reducing on-set diesel generator use, addressing sustainability goals while potentially lowering operational costs. By making the Ecoluxe trailers available exclusively, Universal Production Services creates a tangible ESG advantage for productions using its facilities, moving beyond simple carbon offsets into direct supply chain decarbonization. The key metric to watch will be the eco-data reported from the Aurora dashboard, which should quantify the actual reduction in diesel consumption and emissions on a per-production basis.
Read full article at tvtechnology.com