Lollapalooza Uses Batteries; Mexico Fests Still Rely on Diesel

As Chicago’s Lollapalooza Music Festival wrapped up on Sunday, it marked a milestone in sustainability: for the second consecutive year, the mainstage was powered by batteries. First introduced in 2024, the hybrid system—combining lithium-ion batteries charged with B14 biodiesel—made Lollapalooza the first major US festival to power a stage without diesel generators. The result: a 67% reduction in both greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption, avoiding 26 metric tons of CO₂. While only one of the festival’s nine stages used the system, organizers aim to eventually replace all 70 generators.

Diesel generators have long been essential for live events due to the lack of grid access at most venues, yet they are among the largest sources of GHG emissions in the industry—second only to air travel. Despite their environmental cost, many organizers hesitate to adopt new technologies due to concerns about reliability at scale.

Lithium-ion batteries must still be charged via diesel, biodiesel, or solar power, and their limited storage makes it difficult to meet the vast energy demands of lighting and sound systems without recharging. According to CES Power CEO Greg Landa, this remains a key barrier to adoption. “If there is a choice between sustainability and reliability, everyone is going to choose reliability,” he said. High costs—over five times that of diesel generators—are another major challenge.

Still, change is underway. Jake Perry, Director of Operations and Sustainability at C3 Presents (which produces Lollapalooza), noted that the system’s successful performance in 2025 helped dispel doubts. “I have heard rumors competitors were a little jealous we did it first,” he said. “This was a proving ground to show the system’s reliability.”

Lollapalooza follows smaller festivals in adopting battery tech. In 2023, non-profit REVERB helped Texas’ Luck Reunion power all four stages with solar-charged batteries. By 2024, no recharging was required, and diesel use dropped by 100%—making the event fully diesel-free. Larger festivals like SXSW and Coachella have used batteries for lighter loads, such as lighting and public areas.

Mexico City’s Corona Capital has promoted efforts like using biodegradable materials, treated water, and solar energy. However, on diesel use, organizers have only committed to “efficient use.” Monterrey’s Tecate Pa’l Norte achieved net-zero waste in 2023 through aggressive recycling but omitted any mention of diesel in its sustainability messaging.

Though all sustainability initiatives matter, recycling alone cannot offset large-scale events’ environmental impact. Seaside Sustainability, a UK-based think tank, warns that while festivals are installing recycling bins and refill stations, more impactful changes are needed. A typical three-day festival emits around 500 tons of CO₂—the equivalent of driving around Australia 125 times. Despite relying on a hybrid battery system, which powered only a single stage, Lollapalooza was able to cut 5% of that figure.