This weekend’s 2023 BMW PGA Championship will be the first-ever sports event to have its television production powered entirely by green hydrogen – producing zero emissions.
European Tour Productions, the in-house production company of golf’s DP World Tour is working with its production and distribution partner, IMG, as well as UK-based clean energy company, GeoPura, to supply two hydrogen-powered generators (HPUs) that will be positioned on the fairway of the 6th hole at Wentworth Club.
It’s estimated that relying on HPUs will save a total of 16.4 Tonnes of CO2 compared to the 2022 tournament. The units produce zero CO2 or particulate emissions, with water the only by-product.
The GeoPura HPU works by utilising green hydrogen, produced through renewable energy sources, to generate emission-free electricity which will power the broadcast compound.
The golf buggies used at the tournament to transfer people and equipment across the site will also be recharged using electricity generated via hydrogen for the first time.
Commenting on the use of green hydrogen, Richard Bunn, managing director of European Tour Productions, said: “We are always on the look out for new technologies that will us get to net zero carbon by 2040. Hydrogen is the future of power distribution and has the added benefit of being more resilient than diesel units because they have fewer moving parts.
“Taking this leap, a first for our industry, at such a high-profile Rolex Series tournament is a big statement. This is just the start, and the plan is to roll-out hydrogen power across multiple tournaments in 2024. We also want to share what we have learnt with our industry peers, as tackling the climate emergency must be a collective effort.”
