How Amazon Prime's Fallout Became a Beacon of Sustainability

The second season of Fallout was one of the most hotly anticipated TV events of 2025. The show, which is based on the hit video game series of the same name, is a joint venture of Amazon MGM Studios and Kilter Films and streams on Prime Video.

As its title suggests, the story is set in a period of fallout after a nuclear war. But while Fallout is a dystopic thriller, its production has been decidedly utopian in several respects.

In a move unusual for film projects, Amazon opted to power production using renewable energy, cutting the use of oil-powered generators from a number of sets.

Why do film and TV productions rely on fossil fuels?

In film and TV, the central site for production is known as 'base camp'. For Fallout's second season, Amazon took measures to make its base camp more sustainable than its first outing.

It was a first for Amazon's MGM Studios, and it moves in rarefied air across the film industry more broadly.

Traditionally, film and television have always relied on fossil fuels when filming in remote or outdoor locations. The portability of generators is integral to powering the kinds of lighting, rigs and temporary structures that you'll find on sets from Hollywood to Bollywood.

Data from the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance shows that creating one episode of an hour-long scripted drama typically produces a carbon footprint of approximately 105.4 tonnes.

That is equivalent to the yearly greenhouse gas output of 25 petrol-powered passenger cars.

It is little surprise, then, that fuel usage represents the primary emissions source across media production of this level, with estimates ranging from 34% and 65% of overall emissions.

"One of the biggest challenges of film production is that we have to bring our power everywhere with us," says Katherine Braver, Global Production Sustainability Project Manager at Amazon.

"Film productions can't plug all of their lights and equipment into house power if they are filming in the middle of a city and we film in areas that have no power whatsoever, so we basically bring our own little power plants everywhere we go.

"Historically, these power plants are diesel-running generators."

How and why Amazon used solar power for Fallout Season 2

Determined to shake things up this time around, Amazon chose to deploy a Solar Ring system for production on Fallout Season 2.

This rig, which consists of multiple trailers fitted with solar panels connecting to a central electric power station, was able to produce around 4,952 kilowatt hours of energy during the 20-week trial period on the Fallout set.

The system was created by a firm named GreenLite Trailers and was able to generate enough energy to supply all the trailers on base camp, providing both the cast and crew with sustainable power.

Amazon set out to demonstrate that this solar technology could reliably power EVs and substantial equipment across a variety of production environments. With a fair amount of production taking place in isolated locations in the Mojave and Namib deserts, weather conditions were ideal for solar energy.

Beyond emissions reduction, the electric power station offered advantages including operating far more quietly than conventional generators and avoiding the air pollution from particulate matter associated with diesel generators.

"It's not just about cutting carbon – it's also about improving the work environment for cast and crew," Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, recently wrote on LinkedIn.

"Replacing noisy generators made for quieter sets and cleaner air.

"We're just getting started, but the future of entertainment includes more sustainable productions and I'm here for it!"

Amazon's approach to renewable energy

The deployment of these novel solar technologies forms part of Amazon's wider commitment to sustainability across its business operations.

The company has set a goal to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040, by investing in carbon-free energy, expanding solutions and working with partners to extend its influence.

Amazon's dedication to sustainable filming extends well beyond Fallout, utilising hydrogen fuel to charge batteries on certain UK-based sets.

The company has also backed numerous battery systems across its productions, drawing on its sustainability research and development fund.

Via the fund, it seeks opportunities to implement and evaluate sustainable technologies' performance across different film production settings.

Sachi Gera, Business Operations and Sustainability Lead at Amazon Studios, says: "The purpose of this fund is to trial cleaner tech solutions on productions to see what works across sustainability, budget and operational considerations.

"As we learn more, we move into investing in promising technology for use across productions."