Electric Picnic is always about finding your own way through the madness. One minute you’re watching a huge headline set, the next you’re discovering a tiny stage in the woods, stumbling across an unexpected DJ set or finding yourself somewhere you definitely didn’t plan to be.
This year, there’s another spot worth seeking out: the new Flogas Power Deck.
The raised viewing platform is being introduced at Electric Picnic this year, offering festivalgoers a different perspective on some of the weekend’s biggest performances. Positioned above the crowd, it promises clear sightlines of the main stage while giving visitors somewhere to hang out between sets.
There’s a resident DJ, games and prizes, too, making it less about simply watching the action and more about having somewhere to take in the festival from above.
And there’s an interesting story behind what’s happening beneath the stage.
For the second year running, Flogas is Electric Picnic’s Official Renewable Energy Partner, with renewable electricity for the festival’s main performances sourced from the Knockawarriga Wind Farm in Co. Limerick.
The 22.5MW wind farm, operated by Perigus Energy, has been generating renewable electricity since 2008. Through a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement between Flogas and Knockawarriga, the renewable electricity used for the performances can be traced back to the Irish wind farm, with any additional consumption backed by renewable energy Guarantees of Origin.
In other words, while 80,000 people are busy concentrating on who’s next on stage, there’s a considerable amount happening behind the scenes to power the show.
The Power Deck itself is also designed with a lower-emission energy source in mind. It will be powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable alternative to conventional diesel made from waste materials including used cooking oil and plant matter.
It’s a fitting addition to a festival that has grown considerably since the first Electric Picnic in 2004, when around 10,000 people attended. This year, the festival is expecting a crowd of around 80,000.
For festivalgoers, though, the appeal is considerably simpler: find the Power Deck, grab a good spot and watch the weekend unfold from one of the best vantage points on site.
Because at Electric Picnic, sometimes the best way to see the show is to get above the crowd.
Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival takes place at Stradbally Co Laois from Friday August 28th to Sunday August 30th.
