Hydrogen’s Role in Decarbonising Sports and Entertainment Events
As Extreme E transitions to Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen-powered motorsport series, organisers are backed by key partners and advisors, all helping to make the ambitious shift from electric to hydrogen racing a reality.
Siemens and GeoPura provide expert consultancy on hydrogen solutions and sustainability, within the race car as well as wider site power requirements. We sat down with GeoPura CEO Andrew Cunningham to understand more about hydrogen capabilities.
What inspired GeoPura to focus on hydrogen as a solution for reducing carbon emissions?
Andrew Cunningham: At GeoPura, we see hydrogen as a game-changer in the quest for zero-emission energy, and fully believe it will become a cornerstone of sustainable event planning, particularly for energy-intensive events.
Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen emits only water vapor when used, which means we can deliver power without harmful emissions. When you think about the amount of events, large and small that happen every day, all over the world, the potential is huge.
Can you explain how GeoPura’s hydrogen technology works and why it’s well-suited to power large-scale events?
Andrew Cunningham: Our hydrogen power units (HPUs) use fuel cells to convert green hydrogen into clean electricity, producing zero emissions on-site. For large-scale events like Extreme H, we can set up these units to provide reliable, uninterrupted power. Unlike solar or wind, hydrogen’s energy output is constant, so it’s ready to meet the intense, consistent energy demands of events while leaving a minimal carbon footprint.
What measurable environmental impact or emissions reductions have you observed from using hydrogen at events?
Andrew Cunningham: In the UK, the event industry, which includes over 7,000 events, is predicted to generate over 1 billion kilograms of Co2 emissions annually. With the right infrastructure, hydrogen can make large-scale event power virtually emissions-free, making it an incredibly exciting potential which can benefit huge benefits for people and planet health.
What specific elements of an event’s carbon footprint can hydrogen help reduce, beyond just energy generation?
Andrew Cunningham: Hydrogen can reduce emissions across many aspects of event operations, from powering transport vehicles, to lighting, sound systems, catering, broadcasting and hospitality, all without the typical emissions associated with fossil fuels. Hydrogen power not only reduces the event’s carbon footprint but also eliminates both air and noise pollution, creating a healthier and more pleasant experience for all involved.
Extreme H is a great example where hydrogen extends beyond racing to power everything from vehicle charging to broadcast setups. This comprehensive approach helps eliminate the heavy emissions footprint events typically carry.
What role can motorsport, particularly Extreme H, play in advancing widespread hydrogen technology?
Andrew Cunningham: Motorsport environments push technology to its limits. Extreme H, for example, requires rapid energy output, endurance, and resilience in challenging, remote conditions where we also experience extreme conditions from sand and dust to high temperatures. Successfully running hydrogen in these settings shows that it’s capable of meeting demands at a high level.
How important is visibility for hydrogen in sports like Extreme H when it comes to inspiring wider adoption?
Andrew Cunningham: Visibility is crucial. Extreme H doesn’t just test the technology; it showcases hydrogen’s capabilities to a global audience. Seeing hydrogen powering intense racing challenges changes perceptions, showing fans, event organisers, and industries that it’s a viable alternative to traditional fuels. This visibility and real-world demonstration can inspire greater investment in hydrogen and encourage its use across other high-energy sectors.
Can you share any examples of other events where GeoPura’s hydrogen technology has been used successfully?
Andrew Cunningham: GeoPura proudly works with leading organisations across a wide range of industries, from sports, broadcast media, music and entertainment to the construction and defence industries, providing compelling case-studies which prove that hydrogen is a fantastic, emissions free solution for power needs.
Examples include the BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit and BBC SpringWatch / WinterWatch broadcast production houses, where Geo Pura provided hydrogen power units for filming remote wildlife documentaries, notably in locations where traditional power sources were not accessible. Replacing diesel generators, GeoPura’s HPU’s enabled the BBC to capture high-quality footage without emissions, reducing carbon footprint while preserving natural settings.
At Latitude Festival, the Isle of Wight Festival and Big Church Festival, GeoPura provided clean power solutions for some of the world’s most iconic music festivals. The HPUs powered stages, food stalls, and public areas, replacing typical diesel power setups. Other live sporting event applications include powering the live production and global broadcast of the PGA Tour golf championship and the Touch World Cup Rugby event.
Geo Pura has also worked with Balfour Beatty and other major construction companies, providing hydrogen power for a series of off-grid construction sites, replacing standard diesel generators and setting an example for clean energy adoption in the construction industry.
In all these examples, hydrogen powered events enabled the savings of thousands of litres of diesel fuel, proving the highly exciting possibilities for hydrogen if used at scale in a variety of applications.
Where does the hydrogen come from?
Andrew Cunningham: In the UK, GeoPura is actively investing in the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources. We are also enhancing the logistics required to efficiently transport this hydrogen to the sites where our HPUs are deployed. Globally, partners like ENOWA are rapidly scaling hydrogen production to meet the increasing demand for zero-emission fuels as industries worldwide seek effective solutions to reduce their carbon footprints.
What future innovations or improvements in hydrogen technology do you expect in the next five years, to make its use even more efficient and accessible for events?
Andrew Cunningham: As the technology advances, we expect to see smaller, more cost-effective units that are easier to deploy and maintain and more power dense units capable of multi MW power. Innovations in fuel cell efficiency and hydrogen storage will further enhance hydrogen’s appeal. With each Extreme H race, we’re refining this technology, bringing us closer to a future where hydrogen power is readily available to any event, big or small.
About Extreme E:
Extreme E is a radical off-road racing series, founded by the same team behind Formula E, which showcases electric SUVs and futuristic technologies in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments.
This five-event global voyage utilises its sporting platform for the purpose of promoting electrification, environment and equality. The series’ goal is to highlight the impact of climate change in some of the world’s most endangered environments, promote the adoption of electric vehicles to pave the way for a lower carbon future, and provide a world-first gender-equal motorsport platform.
The first sport to ever be built out of a social purpose, Extreme E aims to minimise environmental impact while maximising awareness, racing in places that have already been damaged or affected by climate change or human interference and taking fans deep into the heart of the most pressing issues facing our planet’s future.
Not only that, but Extreme E is also helping the car industry to develop future-facing technology using racing as a platform for road innovation, which accelerates change ten-fold.
In 2025, Extreme E will transition into Extreme H – the world’s first hydrogen off-road racing series – and will be recognised as an FIA Championship from 2025, as we continue to be a pioneer in motorsport.
About PIF
PIF is one of the largest and most impactful sovereign wealth funds in the world. Since 2015, when the board was reconstituted and oversight transferred to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, PIF’s board of directors has been chaired by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and Chairman of PIF. PIF plays a leading role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and diversification, as well as contributing to shaping the future of the global economy.
Since 2017, PIF has established 94 companies. PIF is building a diversified portfolio by entering into attractive and long-term investment opportunities in 13 strategic sectors in Saudi Arabia and globally. PIF’s strategy, as set out in the PIF Program 2021-2025 – one of the Vision 2030 realization programs – aims to enable many promising sectors and contribute to increasing local content by creating partnerships with the private sector, in addition to injecting at least SAR150 billion annually into the local economy. PIF works to transfer technologies and localize knowledge to build a prosperous and sustainable economy domestically. As the investment arm of Saudi Arabia, PIF looks to make unique investments, and is building strategic alliances and partnerships with significant international institutions and organizations, which contribute to achieving real long-term value for Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. PIF has also created an operational governance model that reflects its main tasks and objectives, in line with best international practices. Applying this model of governance enhances the level of transparency and effectiveness in decision-making and future progress.
About Continental Tires: Founding Partner and Official Tyre Partner Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation.
The tyres business area has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tyre manufacturers with more than 56,000 employees and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the tyres business area includes services for the tyre trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tyres.
About LuisaViaRoma: Official Fashion Partner Defined by the Financial Times as “a haven for directional fashion,”LUISAVIAROMA.COM is the top online luxury fashion destination with 5,000,000 visitors per month and worldwide shipping. With each new season, the website presents the collections of more than 600 established designers and young emerging talents.
About ENOWA: Official Green Hydrogen Partner ENOWA is a world-class energy and water company founded in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. ENOWA produces and delivers clean and sustainable resources for industrial and commercial applications using a smart and connected system designed to be circular and takes advantage of NEOM’s optimal solar and wind energy profile. ENOWA benefits from NEOM’s greenfield site, which has no legacy infrastructure, to advance Energy, Water and Hydrogen innovation. ENOWA will act as a catalyst and incubator for developing new, sustainable energy and water businesses while creating a robust economic sector regionally. Through its commitment to renewable energy and efficient water management, ENOWA seeks to become a global reference for industry leaders and setting a benchmark for sustainable circular economic systems around the world.
About Vodafone Business: Official Technology Communications Partner With expertise in connectivity, global scale and the leading IoT platform, Vodafone Business is a leading technology communications company helping organisations succeed in a digital world and keeping society connected. Vodafone’s purpose is to connect for a better future, enabling an inclusive and sustainable digital society, and many of its solutions have sustainability and inclusivity embedded.
Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company. We provide mobile and fixed services to over 330 million customers in 15 countries (excludes Italy which is held as a discontinued operation under Vodafone Group), partner with mobile networks in 45 more and have one of the world’s largest IoT platforms. In Africa, our financial technology businesses serve almost 79 million customers across seven countries – managing more transactions than any other provider.
This collaboration will see Vodafone Business leading innovations and capabilities such as 5G, MPN, IOT and MEC, integrated into Extreme E’s global operations and will include full involvement in the purpose- driven elements of the series, with special prominence on Extreme E’s Legacy Programmes and the Science Laboratory on board the St Helena. Through its IOT solutions, Vodafone Business is helping sustainability efforts, including agriculture, forestation and decarbonisation of energy grids.
About EY: Official Sustainability Partner EY is a global leader in assurance, consulting, strategy, transactions and tax services, and already plays a significant role in working with Extreme E. Originally announcing its collaboration with the championship back in 2020, EY came on board to help Extreme E achieve its commitment to minimising its overall footprint whilst creating a positive legacy.
Whilst Extreme E strives ‘to race without a trace’, the framework provided by EY has helped the series to minimize its environmental impact across each of its remote race locations. Both prior and post-racing impact assessments have supported Extreme E to strategically plan their actions within these areas.
EY and Extreme E will work closely together to promote the five pillars of Extreme E (or “Five Es”) through the adoption of ‘XE Talks’. These informative presentations, facilitated by Extreme E’s Scientific Committee, will shed light on the Five Es, showcasing the joint commitment of EY and Extreme E.
About Symbio: Official Hydrogen Fuel Cell Provider Symbio is a leading technology and industrial partner for sustainable mobility pioneers. A front-runner in zero-emission hydrogen mobility, Symbio combines industrial leadership, breakthrough innovation, and entrepreneurial agility to cre
In 2023, Symbio inaugurated SymphonHy, the largest integrated fuel cells Gigafactory in Europe, with a capacity of 50,000 fuel cell systems per year. The Group ambitions to manufacture 200,000 StackPacks annually by 2030 to accelerate the deployment of clean mobility that is respectful of both the environment and health.
An equally-owned joint venture between Forvia, Michelin, and Stellantis, Symbio combines 30 years’ experience, and has a track record of more than 8 million kilometers driven by its solutions. To learn more, visit www.symbio.one
About Kaizen Clean Energy: Official Clean Energy Technology Provider Kaizen Clean Energy (KCE), a manufacturer of hydrogen generators, is developing integrated solutions for electric vehicle (EV) charging, hydrogen fuelling, and distributed power for the grid and critical assets.
KCE offers its mobile microgrid to customers through an Energy as a Service contract, which eliminates large capital expenses and provides customers with the flexibility to scale with energy needs over time.
Kaizen Clean Energy will support ENOWA – NEOM’s energy, water, and hydrogen subsidiary and Green Hydrogen Power Partner to Extreme E – in delivering a pioneering hydrogen microgrid solution to the championship.
About ALLCOT: Official Environmental Contribution Partner
Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, ALLCOT works together with communities, organizations, and governments worldwide in climate actions, to accelerate the transition to Net Zero. ALLCOT develops Climate action through projects and solutions with triple impact: environmental, social, and economic; using four strategies:
Sustainability strategies: Innovative, comprehensive, and tailored solutions for businesses to reduce and compensate greenhouse gas emissions and measures the socio-economic co-benefits through the SDGs.
Project development and implementation: Implementation of carbon projects in developing countries, rooted in community engagement, environmental stewardship, and economic viability, driven by integrity, equity, and transparency.
Capacity building: Providing individuals and communities with practical skills and knowledge, possible to apply in their daily lives.
Advocacy: Creating systemic change to work closely with policymakers and stakeholders to promote sustainable policies and practices at the local, national, and international levels.
About Jackson Swiss Partners: Official Foreign Exchange Supplier
Jackson Swiss Partners, known for its lean, debt-free, and profitable business model, prioritises client protection and financial prudence above all else. With a steadfast commitment to avoiding speculative ventures and minimising risk exposure, Jackson Swiss Partners sets itself apart by offering bespoke FX hedging solutions akin to insurance policies rather than traditional trading strategies.
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