This weekend's Austrian Grand Prix will see the paddock, pitlane and F1 broadcast area trialling a new energy generation system aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 90%.
The trial is being rolled out as F1 continues to explore sustainable solutions to power events in the future, as part of its wider strategy to reach Net Zero by 2030.
At the event in Spielberg, a low-carbon system will be used to power all garages and motorhomes belonging to F1, the F1 teams and the FIA, as well as the pit wall, the timing room, and the Formula 1 Event Technical Centre (ETC) where the at-track broadcast operations are housed.
The energy system will produce enough energy to meet peak and continuous demand over the race weekend and will be powered by more sustainable sources, including a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuel and 600m2 of solar panels on the inner field of the final corner at the Red Bull Ring, that will provide an estimated 2.5MWh of energy across the event.
According to F1, the pilot will create a more efficient and sustainable operations system, not only reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 90% in the powered areas, with the potential for even higher reductions, but also making it easier and more reliable to power the event by removing the need for teams to provide their own generators.
The trial will allow Formula 1 to collect and analyse crucial data that could lead to a more streamlined system being rolled out at future events. It marks the latest development by F1 to move towards using greener energy operations at race weekends and is another step on F1's journey to Net Zero by 2030. Other initiatives introduced to reduce our carbon footprint through operation changes and technological innovations in 2023 include:
DHL's new biofueled trucks delivering the European leg of the 2023 season - reducing emissions by a minimum of 60% compared to the use of traditional fuel.
The use of biofuels to power the ETC, TV compound and the rest of the technical generators at a planned nine races throughout this season, in cooperation with the host promoters.
The trial of a battery power solution for the TV compound at the Spanish Grand Prix, resulting in a 42% reduction in energy generated from diesel, reducing the generator run time from 24 hours to approximately 3 hours per day.
"Formula 1's approach to driving innovation that creates meaningful impact and influence on the wider world goes beyond hybrid engines and sustainable fuels," said Ellen Jones, Head of ESG, Formula 1. "This approach drives everything we do including how we run our own operations, and the trial in Austria is the latest example of this, demonstrating the commitment from Formula 1 and key stakeholders to develop new ways of working. Using the latest technology and innovations, we're continuing to explore new opportunities to deliver events in a more sustainable way to reduce our carbon footprint."
"This energy trial is the latest push for more sustainable operations," added, Ian Stone, Logistics Director, Formula 1, "which feeds into our overall goal of being Net Zero by 2030 and shows the desire across the paddock from key stakeholders, who have bought into the ambition and understanding of why it is important too. There's not only the obvious benefit of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, but logistically it offers us the opportunity to create a more streamlined approach to powering Grand Prix events."
Meanwhile, in its infinite wisdom, the F1 circus travels back and forth across the globe, Austria to England then over to Belgium and on to Hungary, when surely the most sustainable route would be to start off in Hungary and work back towards Britain for the summer break.
There are various other examples, but you get the gist.
And as for "head of ESG", in other words the F1 corporation's environmental, social, and governance ranking, driven by the likes of Blackrock...
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