The temporary power industry is entering a new era of visibility. Through real-time load monitoring, smart metering, and remote telemetry systems, the technology now exists to understand exactly how power is being used on site. Yet too many operational decisions are still based on estimated requirements rather than real operational data, and that’s one of the biggest challenges currently facing our industry.
As productions become more ambitious, with increasingly complex technical requirements and tighter delivery schedules, the role of temporary power is changing. Reliability will always come first, but production teams are also looking for greater efficiency, clearer reporting and a better understanding of where improvements can be made. At the same time, growing sustainability expectations mean organisations are increasingly expected to evidence the impact of decisions they make, rather than relying on assumptions.
Historically, temporary power has often been designed around peak demand, ensuring enough capacity is available to cover every eventuality. While this provides resilience, it can also mean equipment is operating with more capacity than required for much of a project, creating unnecessary fuel consumption, costs and emissions. This is where better operational visibility becomes critical.
The future of temporary power is not just about introducing new technology – it is about using better information to improve decision-making. Access to real-time operational data helps move the industry away from assumptions and towards evidence, allowing production teams to deliver reliable power while identifying efficiencies that may otherwise be missed.
At CES, we’ve seen first-hand how greater visibility can transform the way temporary power is managed. Our purpose-built telemetry system provides a more detailed and accurate view of generator performance, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions in real time, helping production teams understand changing demand, identify inefficiencies, and make informed decisions before issues arise.
We have already seen the impact that a more data-led approach can have. On a recent UK film backlot production requiring continuous 24/7 power, we reviewed the site’s operational requirements and identified an opportunity to replace the original specification with a more efficient hybrid solution using generators and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). By better understanding how power demand changed throughout the project, the system could respond more effectively while maintaining the reliable, silent power the production required.
The result was a 40% reduction in generator runtime, saving 538 hours of operation, more than 15,000 litres of fuel, 49 tonnes of carbon emissions, and delivering commercial savings of almost £25,000. The project demonstrates that the biggest efficiency gains often come not from simply changing equipment, but from understanding exactly how power is being used and designing solutions around real operational requirements.
As the industry continues to evolve, the future of temporary power will not simply be about providing more capacity. It will be about creating intelligent systems that deliver the right power, in the right way, backed by the data needed to make smarter operational decisions. Better reporting is no longer just about measuring performance, it’s becoming one of the most valuable tools for delivering more efficient, more sustainable, and more cost-effective productions.
