Cinergy Mobile Power Launches Diesel-Free Energy Systems for South Africa’s Film and Events Sectors

South African startup Cinergy Mobile Power has launched a new generation of clean, intelligent mobile energy systems designed to replace diesel generators in the country’s film, television, and live events industries. The company’s modular solar-hybrid and battery-based solutions have already been deployed for Netflix’s One Piece Season 2—its largest production ever filmed in Africa—and an ITV Studios reality television shoot in Mpumalanga, demonstrating their viability for large-scale, off-grid power needs.

Zero-Emissions Power for Major Productions

Cinergy’s systems provided silent, zero-emissions energy for Netflix’s One Piece Season 2, which filmed across multiple locations in Africa. The production relied on Cinergy’s grid-independent platforms to power lighting, sound equipment, and other on-set infrastructure without the noise or air pollution associated with diesel generators. Abe Cambridge, Co-Founder of Cinergy Mobile Power, stated that the company’s solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing production workflows, eliminating the need for operational changes while reducing emissions and costs.

“Energy has become a strategic production variable, affecting schedules, locations, sound, crew well-being, permitting, and budgets,” Cambridge said. “Cinergy is a practical replacement for diesel that works the way productions already operate, but with lower emissions, less noise, greater reliability, and data-backed insights to maximise efficiency.”

For ITV Studios, Cinergy’s systems powered an entire week of outdoor filming in Mpumalanga, including lighting, air conditioning, and camera equipment, using only fuel-free battery and solar energy. Phil Holdgate, Head of Production Sustainability at ITV Studios, praised the deployment as evidence that clean power can be both practical and cost-effective on location. “Productions are looking for innovative solutions that reduce emissions without compromising on reliability or resilience,” Holdgate said. “Cinergy showed that clean power is not just a sustainability goal but a workable solution.”

Scaling Clean Energy for Events and Remote Locations

Beyond film and television, Cinergy’s systems have been tested in extreme off-grid environments. At the 2025 AfrikaBurn festival in Tankwa Karoo—one of the world’s largest off-grid cultural gatherings—Cinergy’s solar-hybrid and battery platforms supplied continuous electricity for nearly six weeks, covering the event’s build, operation, and strike phases. Generators were only used briefly during peak demand, significantly reducing noise, fuel logistics, and emissions. The deployment also provided organisers with real-time energy use insights, improving operational efficiency.

Cinergy’s expansion is backed by climate-focused venture capital firm Holocene Ventures, which provided approximately ZAR 8 million in seed funding. Joshua Romisher, General Partner at Holocene, described Cinergy as a “practical climate innovation” that addresses a widespread problem with technology that outperforms diesel generators. “Diesel generators are a significant and largely overlooked emissions source,” Romisher said. “Cinergy replaces them with systems that are cleaner, quieter, and actually save production money.”

Economic and Industry Impact

South Africa’s film industry is a major economic driver, with foreign productions injecting ZAR 2.52 billion into the local economy in 2024 alone. According to industry reports, every rand spent on film production generates an additional R2.50 in wider economic activity, supporting tens of thousands of jobs. However, power provision—typically reliant on diesel generators—accounts for 10–15% of production budgets, a cost that has risen alongside fuel prices and regulatory pressures.

The shift toward clean mobile power is being accelerated by stricter local filming by-laws and growing community resistance to noise and air pollution. Cinergy’s systems, which use locally manufactured battery solutions from Freedom Won, offer a solution that aligns with international studios’ sustainability requirements while reducing operational costs. Maarten Vinkhuyzen, a clean energy analyst, has projected that battery prices could drop by as much as 70% over the next five years, further improving the cost-competitiveness of battery-based power systems.

Cinergy’s modular platforms are configurable for applications ranging from small commercial shoots to large-scale productions and multi-stage festivals. The company’s collaboration with local energy storage providers like Freedom Won also strengthens South Africa’s clean energy ecosystem, creating opportunities for further innovation in mobile power solutions.

As global film studios and event organisers increasingly prioritise sustainability, Cinergy’s diesel-free systems are positioned to become a standard for temporary power in Africa’s entertainment industries. With proven deployments for Netflix, ITV Studios, and AfrikaBurn, the company is demonstrating that clean energy can meet the demanding requirements of high-profile productions without sacrificing reliability or cost efficiency.

Cinergy Mobile Power Launches Diesel-Free Energy Systems for South Africa’s Film and Events Sectors, Secures Netflix and ITV Studios Contracts

Zero-Emissions Power for Major Productions

Scaling Clean Energy for Events and Remote Locations

Economic and Industry Impact

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