Energising the Formula 1® Austrian Grand Prix
Formula 1® is on track to become Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and Aggreko is helping the championship to achieve this goal through a sustainable energy pilot project
Energising the Formula 1® Austrian Grand Prix
This started at the 2023 Formula 1® Austrian Grand Prix with Aggreko supporting the Fomula 1® Event Energy Transition, enabling a reduction of the carbon footprint of the event by 90 per cent. This project is aligned with our sustainability framework, Energising Change™. As the world grows more concerned with how its energy is produced, Aggreko’s Greener Upgrades portfolios are supporting customers to achieve their energy goals with more sustainable solutions.
Given that high energy demands are driven by the temporary critical infrastructure designed to deliver and televise a Formula 1® race, transitioning to greener energy and reducing carbon emissions is key for Formula 1® to achieve its commitments on carbon neutrality.
What we did to help Formula 1® in Austria is one step towards transitioning to greener energy and supporting sporting events across the globe to reduce their carbon footprint.
Formula 1® towards net zero at the Formula 1® Austrian Grand Prix
The Aggreko and Formula 1® team studied the energy demands of the Formula 1® Austrian Grand Prix, they identified the areas contributing the largest environmental impact and consequently the most significant potential for carbon reduction.
Traditionally, the design and delivery of the temporary energy infrastructure consisted of approximately 50 generators (totalling 10MW) delivering low efficiency, fuelled by standard fossil fuel-based diesel and located in a number of different circuit locations. However, for the 2023 race, a temporary energy solution was designed around a centralised power generation compound and capillary distribution to all end users ensuring their required power consumption expectations were supported.
The centralised power generation compound consisted of just 10 generators (totalling 5MW) with high efficiency, Stage V low emission engines and running exclusively on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetables Oil), which produces up to 90 per cent less CO2 than fossil-based diesel. The capillary electrical distribution was designed to the highest standards, with Aggreko’s bespoke Electrical Design Software simulating electrical parameters and defining optimal protection settings to enhance reliability and resilience of the end users.
The 2023 solution Aggreko delivered also featured 1MW of Battery storage to enhance energy quality, stability, reliability and efficiency plus a mobile solar system to harvest renewable energy
From implementation to race day, the whole project was under the close watch of an Aggreko team of technical experts to guarantee operational excellence, rapid response times and the highest standards of performance.
They were also involved in presenting this innovative solution to the race teams and collecting their valuable feedback. This created changes and updates to the design including a last-minute update to support alterations within the Paddock and Garages just a few days before the start of the installation.
The Aggreko Difference
Aggreko delivered real-time telemetry and monitoring to guarantee rapid response times and guidance to the on-site team, but also to collect valuable information on energy, HVO consumption, peak power and solar system renewable energy. All of this is essential for creating carbon reduction and to plan the further improvements and optimisations for the 2024 race.
With Aggreko’s real time telemetry and monitoring, all the key system information is displayed on-screen in the operation centre and can be constantly monitored. Over 300,000 data parameters every day are collected and stored in the system hard drives.
The key areas Aggreko provided energy were also the most critical for a Formula 1® race. These included the Pit Wall, Garages and Technical Buildings, as well as the Event Technical Centre, Paddock Hospitality and F1® Catering. These were all energised through the centralised power generation compound.
The solar system had a surface of 600m2, compromising of 200 solar panels and created 2.5Mwh of green energy, approximately 2.5 per cent of the overall energy required.
Aggreko’s real time telemetry and monitoring system logged 300,000 data points each day. This ensured the team always knew where pinch points were and how they can utilise the energy in the most efficient way.
The capillary distribution from the centralised power generation compound to all end users consisted of 30km of cable installed across the Austrian circuit. It was essential to have clear design and planning with neat cable containment, not only for tidiness but also for safety and reliability.
The whole race weekend was a huge success as acknowledged by Formula 1®, the race teams and Aggreko team members. It caught the attention of the media as a significant step forward for Formula 1® in its journey to Net Zero by 2030.
The pilot project in Austria had an ambitious sustainability goal to reduce carbon emissions due to energy generation by over 90% going from 198 tons CO2 in 2022 to 12 tons CO2 in 2023.
The project delivered above expectations with results from telemetry confirming further HVO fuel consumption reductions of 20% from 48,000 litres forecasted to less than 40,000 litres actual, with an additional reduction of carbon generated of 10 tons CO2 in 2023.
Formula 1® Austrian Grand Prix 2024: A further step in carbon reduction and increased effiency
The data collection meant we could analyse energy consumption and loads, allowing us to reduce the centralised power generation compound from 5MW in 2023 to 3MW in 2024 and the cabling respectively from 30km to 25km.
The projections of HVO fuel consumption are also showing a reduction by 20% from 40,000 litres to 32,000 litres corresponding to only eight tons of CO2 emissions in 2024.
The real time telemetry and monitoring will be enhanced, measuring more data points from 300,000 daily in 2023 to over 400,000 in 2024, allowing further data collection for future improvement.
After the success of 2023 in terms of carbon reduction, increased efficiency and technological innovation, Aggreko and Formula 1® set some challenging improvement goals for the planning and execution of the 2024 race.