Dhoop hi meri phasalon tak paani ko laati re
Dhoop bhare iss safar mein meri dhoop hi saathi re.
(It is the sunrays that carry water to my fields
On this hot sunlit path, the sunrays are my only company.)
These are the lyrics to our song ‘Dhoop’, written as part of a collaboration with SELCO Foundation. The song was written to highlight the different ways in which decentralised renewable energy (DRE) initiatives have impacted the livelihoods of individuals.
As part of the songwriting process, we went on a field visit to Hubli in 2022. The visit was arranged by SELCO Foundation to give us a first-hand look at the impact of DRE on the ground. We met several individuals who had been using this sustainable technology. A story that stood out was that of a farmer—one of the few women farmers in the area—who hailed from a village outside Hubli. The fact that she was using solar-power to irrigate and till her land and sustain herself really inspired us. After her husband’s passing, she was told to return to her father’s house, but she refused. Instead, she persevered, becoming one of the few female farmers in the area.
On our return journey, as we reflected on these stories, we began to imagine the broader potential of renewable energy. A thought struck us: if renewable energy could transform so many livelihoods, could it also power an entire concert? In 2024, we decided to take the plunge with an eight-city tour to celebrate the launch of our new album, Raushan, and explore the possibility of powering our concerts with renewable energy instead of traditional diesel gensets.
The hidden energy behind live performances
According to Live Nation Entertainment, more than 145 million people attended 50,000 events worldwide in 2023. For each of these events, temporary sets had to be constructed; venues were supplied with energy; and performers, equipment, and audiences were transported, often over long distances. The data on the carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of tours is limited. However, according to a report, which analysed data from events held in 17 countries, the average festival produces 500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with each attendee generating 5 kg of CO2 per day.
Across the international music scene, artists such as Coldplay and Massive Attack have started conversations about reducing the carbon footprint of their concerts. However, in India, this dialogue is yet to take root.
At Swarathma, the environment has always been a cause close to our hearts. From our stand against single-use plastic to supporting protests such as those against the proposed tree-cutting at Indiranagar BDA complex and the #SteelFlyoverBeda movement, we’ve consistently advocated for environmental causes through our music. We’ve also worked with nonprofits such as the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) and supported Greenpeace India in raising awareness about climate change. So, when we saw an opportunity to experiment with a solution that could help reduce emissions in the live events space, we seized it.
Setting up the technology
As a five-member band, our technical requirements are significant: vocals; drums; electric, acoustic, and bass guitars; as well as a violin. Performing hour-long sets required a four hour–long set-up and soundcheck process in addition to the show itself. On this tour, we also featured guest performers, LED screens, and opening acts in each city. For a concert with up to a thousand attendees, two separate power sources are typically required—one for sound and one for lighting—both of which are usually powered by diesel generators.
Given our energy-intensive production, we needed a reliable alternative power source that could meet our demands at every venue, including arenas, clubs, and auditoriums.
We partnered with AmpereHour, a Pune-based organisation specialising in smart energy solutions. AmpereHour was fully on board from the outset, quickly understanding our requirements and bringing their expertise to the table. They were enthusiastic not only about the technical challenge but also about collaborating across verticals in the live entertainment space, a new and impactful avenue to test their solutions. Together, we created Sunny—a renewable energy rig designed to power our concerts sustainably.
Sunny is a 20-foot container truck that features a battery system with 400-kWh energy capacity and a 100-kVA power output, equivalent to a large traditional genset. The batteries are also equipped with in-built inverters, transformers, cooling mechanisms, and advanced safety and control systems—all housed within the compact container truck. The truck itself is outfitted with an array of solar panels on its roof, allowing it to recharge while parked or even on the move. Additionally, it can be plugged in and charged at EV stations. Once fully charged, the rig can deliver four hours of uninterrupted power with an additional four hours of backup—more than enough for our shows.
Going the extra mile
Touring with a renewable energy rig added another layer of complexity to an already intricate process. Planning a performance or a tour as independent artists in India is a challenge in itself. Managing logistics for the band and its members, coordinating with venues, and handling marketing and publicity—all of this needs careful attention, often with limited resources. Now we had the additional task of travelling with Sunny, which meant:
1. Accommodating extra travel days into the tour plan
Given that Sunny is a 20-foot container, it ideally must not travel long distances and should remain within a single city, much like a traditional generator. However, Sunny was traveling with us by road, so we had to factor in the time it would take to reach each city. As a result, we spaced out the tour dates, leaving gaps ranging from five days to a month between cities. Our itinerary was designed around Sunny’s route: Mumbai to Bangalore, followed by Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and finally, Lucknow.
2. Planning around existing energy infrastructure
Charging Sunny required meticulous planning. In some cities, we plugged into rooftop solar set-ups, while in others, we relied on certified clean energy sources. In Bangalore, Mumbai, and Pune, we had access to certified clean energy charging points. However, in some cities—such as Chandigarh—we ran into issues. The EV charging station we had partnered with lacked an access route for a 20-foot container truck, making it difficult to charge.
3. Continuous liaising with venues
The AmpereHour tech team travelled ahead of us, arriving a day or two in advance to plan the charging schedule. Since each city had a different technical vendor, our production team had to coordinate closely to ensure a smooth set-up.
For the technical vendors, the process remained largely the same—rather than plugging their power distributor into a traditional genset, they simply used the same cable socket to connect to Sunny. In fact, the venue teams were quite open to the experiment—if anything, they were more curious about how it would all work. I remember someone from the technical team even asking if they could charge their phone through Sunny.
Once the power was rigged up, everything proceeded as usual. We set up, conducted our soundcheck, and performed just as we would at any other show. After the concert, the team wound up the cables and powered down the system. Before long-distance transport, Sunny had to be discharged to a safe level—another small but necessary step in our journey toward sustainable touring.
4. Figuring out licenses and permissions
The permissions required for the tour varied from state to state. Each state had its own set of regulations. In some cities, the local authorities mandated that we needed fire safety licenses, electrical inspectorate licenses, police permission, and a host of other approvals. In Delhi, for instance, our local partners committed to the concert before they were able to finalise some key logistics. It was only when we arrived at the venue that our team realised that the closest place to park Sunny was across the street from the venue. This meant that the power cable would have to cross the street, which caused problems as there were no permissions in place for this. Our local liaison teams worked feverishly with authorities and only in the nick of time did we secure the go-ahead for the show.
5. Thinking about additional costs
All these challenges added to the overall cost of the tour, along with Sunny’s rental cost, which was significantly higher than that of a traditional genset. Given the high upfront capital investment, much of the project’s costs were covered by SELCO Foundation and Rainmatter Foundation. However, now that a system have been created, the focus must be on building an ecosystem of live entertainment stakeholders who can support renewable energy concerts. So, while our model itself might not be replicable, our system certainly is. That should be the next step in this journey.
If we had to do the tour all over again, we would establish a more robust communications protocol with local authorities and venues to avoid some of the technical infrastructure challenges we faced. Having gone through this experience, we now have a better understanding of the doubts and concerns that arise, and addressing them proactively will be crucial.
Making sure the message carries forward
Live performances are a vital revenue stream for artists, and in India—as we’ve seen over the past year—their scale is set to grow even further. With the surge in large-scale concerts, the country finds itself at a pivotal moment, one where it has the opportunity to shape the future of live events in a more sustainable direction, especially as event infrastructure continues to develop.
For the live music industry to truly evolve, however, everyone in the chain must consider the climate impact of their choices. It starts with artists demanding to perform with renewable energy. Fans must push festivals and concert promoters to prioritise clean energy set-ups. Ticketing platforms should incentivise sustainably powered concerts. Journalists should write about them, and people should make reels about them. Only when all these elements come together will this effort truly gain momentum.
With this vision in mind, we knew our tour had to do more than just use renewable energy—it had to actively showcase its potential. Sustainability couldn’t remain a backstage effort; it had to be an integral part of the show itself. To make that happen, we planned several touchpoints throughout the tour.
- Bringing sustainability into the conversation: Our press release and marketing materials—posters, digital promotions, and interviews—not only highlighted our efforts but also acknowledged our collaboration with AmpereHour. We focused on two key messages: a) the potential impact of this set-up on the live event industry, and b) the role of partnerships in making it possible.
- Making clean energy visible on stage: At every venue, we displayed Sunny’s battery life on screen so that audiences could see how it was powering the concert in real time. Before performing ‘Ee Bhoomi’—a Kannada song about the earth becoming paradise—we shared that every note, every beat, everything they were hearing was powered by clean energy. Unlike before, there was no diesel burning in the background. Connecting the LED screen to Sunny’s dashboard for a live battery feed always drew a great response from the crowd.
- Letting people experience it first-hand: In cities where we held meet-and-greets, fans had the chance to see and understand how Sunny worked, making the technology feel more tangible.
- Encouraging other artists to adopt the idea: We created a WhatsApp group for all the artists who opened for us on tour. Many were inspired by the concept and are now sharing it with their own networks, exploring how they might integrate similar set-ups into their performances. We’re also actively spreading the word among fellow musicians, event organisers, and other stakeholders to encourage wider adoption.
By making sustainability a visible, integral part of the concert experience, we hope to show that running live events to run on clean energy is not just possible—it’s practical. The more artists and organisers experiment with these ideas, the closer we get to transforming the way live entertainment is powered.
And this is just the beginning. While the solar grid may not be a perfect solution, and the energy from EV charging points may still be sourced from coal, it’s a significant step away from the direct emissions created by burning diesel behind the stage. A renewable energy solution like this isn’t limited to concerts. It has the potential to revolutionise any space where mobile power is needed. From outdoor film and video shoots to pop-up stores, markets, or even aircraft parked on an apron, the possibilities are vast.
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Know more
- Read this article on why why the live event industry must prioritise sustainability.
- Learn more about the growing renewable energy sector here.
