Lab of Tomorrow, the corporate campus of Tomorrowland with a focus on innovation organised their Community Impact Day on 7 May. The event focussed on the future of a more sustainable live entertainment industry. Throughout the day multiple keynote speakers took the floor to share their expertise, among them EcoSourcen.

Our CEO Dany Bosteels and CTO Floris Bosteels had the honours to be the final keynote speakers. The two heads of EcoSourcen used their to time to share the company’s insights and solutions to help the industry become more durable.

‘The transition is irreversible’, that is how Floris decided to open the presentation, ‘stability is a thing of the past; in the past 20 years we have had three different energy crises’, Floris continued. Explaining how their primary goal is to aid in the energy transition, ‘if one part of the grid fails it will take days to repair and the impact will be felt nationwide.’ A sentiment that has also been felt by the live entertainment sector. Events are starting to look more intensely at energy alternatives, not just for the environment, but to safeguard their continuity.

Solutions for the industry

While live industry events have been looking into green energy alternatives such as solar panels or wind turbines, the amount of energy they produce is only a drop in the bucket. And usually events require a large amount of energy in short bursts, not the long steady flow of energy that these solutions provide.

It is hardly justifiable to invest large amounts of money and effort to only have it pay off for a few weeks per year. And investing in a static solution is only possible for events that always occur at the same locations, and even then it is not desired. EcoSourcen is conscious of these hurdles and sees mobile solutions as the answer for the live entertainment industry.

Mobile batteries

Dany and Floris point towards mobile batteries as a promising solution for the industry. Adding batteries to your event for energy storage allows organisers to bridge the gaps when the energy grid might be strained due to high demands.

This energy can be saved from solar panels and turbines during moments of low energy demand, or even connected to a generator to make it much more efficient. Another option is to buy energy cheaply from the grid during moments of high production and low prices through an automated Smart Energy Management system, to be stored for later use when demand is high.

This solution helps both the event and the grid. The organisers get to have energy certainty and can lower their energy costs. And the grid providers get to offload spare energy and lessen demand during peak periods.

The two types of batteries EcoSourcen proposes are Lithium-ion and Vanadium Flow.

Lithium-ion batteries

These batteries have been the staple of energy storage for quite some time, and for good reasons. Lithium batteries are ideal for energy storage capacity when space is scarce, while also boasting high capacity and output.

EcoSourcen’s Lithium batteries have an extra-song service life of 10.000 cycles, thanks to their unique water cooling technology. That same technology makes them more safe and reliable, alongside their fire protection system.

The biggest advantages of choosing this solution is the low investment cost and the ease of transportation due to their reduced size. (20ft. containers)

Vanadium (ES Flow)

These batteries are EcoSourcen’s own innovation and are the most sustainable batteries available on the market.

ES Flow batteries are made out of vanadium, sourced solely from Europe according to European environmental standards. After the battery’s impressive 25 years (16,000 cycles) lifespan that same Vanadium can be 100% recycled.

The ES Flow batteries use a special fireproof electrolyte, making them ideal for applications where fire risk is a concern. They offer reliable energy storage and peace of mind.

While the initial investment cost may be higher than that of Lithium batteries, over their entire lifespan ES Flow batteries will save you more money, especially when at the end EcoSourcen buys back the vanadium to recycle it.

Couleur Café in Brussels relied on EcoSourcen for a Vanadium Flow setup during their festival in 2025. They were looking for a stable energy solution for their locker system. The lockers used an electronic locking mechanism, so if there were ever a power outage that would be a disaster. EcoSourcen advised them to use their ES Flow battery solution because it is a 100% green solution and entirely fireproof. The batteries provided the lockers with energy for the entire festivals and also powered the phone charging stations in each locker.

 

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Storage

EcoSourcen’s latest invention holds great potential for the industry.

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Storage System (HFCSS) is a green alternative to diesel generators commonly used for events. It is a mobile unit that contains a hydrogen generator and adjoined battery system that can provide energy at any time, immediately at full power. The first model has been installed at Lab of Tomorrow and is fully operational, powering two electric vehicle charging stations. It holds many advantages compared to diesel generators:

Contrary to a diesel generator there are no local emissions. The entire energy production process is entirely without emission. If you buy green hydrogen this entire process becomes even more environmentally friendly because no carbon was emitted while sourcing the hydrogen. But there are also forms of hydrogen which you can use that are cheaper, but were sourced less greenly, depending on your budget.

The Hydrogen fuel cell is not only more green than a diesel generator it is also 25% more efficient and more silent.

The cherry on top is the by-product of the energy process: water at 70 degrees Celsius. While converting the hydrogen to energy water is created. This can be connected to sanitary or other systems to re-utilize it, making the entire system even more energy efficient and eco-friendly.

A bright future

From the keynote and the crowd’s reaction EcoSourcen received, it is clear that there is a bright, green future for the live entertainment industry.

Want to know how EcoSourcen can make your live events more eco-friendly and less grid-dependent? Visit our website and discover the different available solutions.

Or get in touch with us directly and remember Dany’s motto:

‘we have a solution for everyone, and if it doesn’t exist, we create it.’