5 Key Steps to Reliable Power for Music Festivals
When planning a music festival, one of the most critical – and often underestimated – components is power. Without a robust and well-thought-out temporary power setup, crucial things such as music, food stalls or bars could be left without power.
Whether your organising a small local gathering or a large-scale, multi-stage event, planning dependable power for music festivals is essential. Power is reliable for everything from sound and lighting systems to caterers, traders or fair rides.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through five key steps every event planner should take to ensure reliable power for music festivals – from setup to de-rig.
1. Accurately Calculate Your Power Requirements
Start by understanding your total expected power load (kW). You can find this by making a list of every item that will need power, from PA systems to lights to catering vans, etc, and add together their required power in kW.
Top Tip: Factor in your peak usage. Thus usually occurs during peak times when everything is operating simultaneously. Overlooking this can lead to unexpected power trips. Underspecifying your power setup risks overloading your generator. While over specifying wastes budget and fuel. Accurate planning ensures reliability and cost-efficiency.
2. Choose the Right Generators (kW vs kVA)
Understanding the difference between kW (kilowatts) and kVA (kilovolts-amperes) is crucial. kW is the actual usable power, while kVA includes both real power and reactive power.
kW = kVA x Power Factor (typically 0.8 for generators).
Working out the kVA requirements allows you to choose the correct generator to manage the power of your event. Read our blog kW vs kVA to learn more. For a quick calculation, tools like this event power estimator can help you plan accurately.
Bonus Tip: Consider a backup generator in case of a failure.
3. Plan Your Power Distribution
It’s not just about having a generator – it’s about getting power where it’s needed, safely and efficiently.
- Use distribution boards to divide loads between stages, vendors, campsites and facilities.
- Use cable ramps for crossing walkways or roads to prevent hazards or cable snags.
- Ensure RCD protection is in place to protect users and equipment.
At Event Sparks, we work closely with clients to develop site-specific layouts that align with the event’s infrastructure and crowd movement. We are dedicated to providing seamless power for as little cost as possible.
4. Don't Overlook Fuel Management
Fuel logistics are a crucial part of ensuring uninterrupted power for music festivals. Planning your fuel consumption and top-up schedule in advance will keep generators running without disruption.
Questions to consider:
- How long will your festival run for?
- How long will the generators be running for?
- Can fuel deliveries be made during the event?
Working with a supplier that offers on-site fuel management can save you time, reduce stress and avoid downtime. Furthermore, choosing fuel-efficient generators can lead to a reduction in fuel costs after your event.
5. Secure On-Site Technical Support
No matter how well you plan, live events come with variables – unexpected weather, equipment needs or last-minute changes. Having a qualified technician on-site means you can respond quickly to any power-related issues.
At Event Sparks, we don’t just drop off equipment. Our technicians provide on-site support to make sure systems are running smoothly and all problems are fixed immediately. Our aim? Power that works so well, you don’t even notice it.
Ready to Power Your Festival?
Whether you’re planning your first event or your fiftieth, Event Sparks is here to help. From power to tower lights to fuel services and more, we provide complete power solutions for music festivals across the UK.
