Radio 5 Live will be powered by renewable energy on Energy Day, in a special outdoor broadcast at MediaCityUK.
Taking place on September 5th, an outdoor studio will run for 12 hours on solar power, while Richard Bacon’s afternoon show will rely on exercise bikes to keep it on air.
Other forms of energy will include chip fat from the BBC canteen, wind turbines and kinetic energy from a human hamster wheel.
It’s to highlight the fact that in 2020, a quarter of the UK’s power supply will be shut down, with power stations closing, or coming to the end of their natural life. As a result, the Government is looking at other options.
Throughout the day, live webcams will broadcast the experiments taking place at the MediaCityUK plaza, which will transmit some news bulletins, sports reports as well as a number of programmes.
“Energy Day is an innovative and unique way to look at a national news story. Radio 5 live will be bringing the debate to audiences and offering them the chance to put their questions to those that matter in the world of energy. Powering a studio purely on renewable energy is a risk for the station but will make for exciting radio nonetheless!” said controller of Radio 5 live, Jonathan Wall.
Guests include Ed Davey MP and Caroline Flint MP, with Davey joining an energy debate in front of a studio audience during Your Call from 9am.
Shelagh Fogarty’s show will focus on energy prices and the consumer side of energy and from 2pm guests, including Chris Boardman will hop on an exercise bike to power their way through Richard Bacon’s show.
Following a Drive special on fracking and nuclear power will be a live panel debate
