The first deployments of the H2 OnSet service will occur in Toronto, Canada – one of North America’s leading markets for motion picture production – in the summer of 2024 and will launch in other major markets shortly thereafter. H2 OnSet was developed in close consultation with frontline personnel in film and TV production to help the industry meet its decarbonisation goals. Using local, low-carbon hydrogen suppliers, H2 OnSet’s on-demand drop-and-swap service provides customers with uninterrupted power.
“This is a game changer for the film and TV industry,” said David Hardy, Chief Market Development Officer at H2 OnSet. “The ability to deliver low-carbon hydrogen fuel to production crews where, when and as needed, anchors all the other zero-emission power technologies on set, such as rechargeable batteries, to a low-carbon energy system.”
H2 OnSet will launch with a first-of-a-kind power unit built by Sommers Generator Systems. Sommers, established in 1936, is a Canadian manufacturer and distributor of quality generator systems for prime, standby, portable and towable power designed and built for institutional, industrial, commercial, and residential applications with an extensive network of dealers.
“We are delighted to distribute our hydrogen generators through H2 OnSet as the exclusive dealer in the North American film & TV sector,” said Chris McGregor, President of Sommers Generator Systems. “The H2 OnSet team has been a trusted partner with a clear line-of-sight on the needs of this market throughout the development of our revolutionary generator.”
“The new generator is capable of a sustained AC power output of 165 kW,” said Ry Smith, Chief Technical Officer for Change Energy. “This size hits a sweet spot for Film and TV productions, being a common power rating for generators throughout North America.”
Development of the H2 OnSet hydrogen power service is supported by the climate tech accelerator, Third Derivative, as a part of the Clean Mobile Power Cohort. The cohort is part of the Clean Mobile Power Initiative, which was launched last June by Netflix and The Walt Disney Company, with the participation and support of Third Derivative and RMI. Having met the rigorous performance requirements for participation, H2 OnSet was invited into a cohort of only ten startups selected for the initiative."
“The Clean Mobile Power Initiative is a potent expression of the film and TV industry’s commitment to climate action,” said David Hardy. “H2 OnSet is thrilled to work alongside the industry’s leaders in commercialising systems of sustainability – not only in this sector, but eventually in other industries that rely on mobile power generation.”