UC Leuven-Limburg and Pukkelpop team up for sustainability using alpacas

© All pictures UC Leuven-Limburg

Green energy, research and increasing awareness. These were UC Leuven-Limburg's focal points for this year's collaboration with Pukkelpop. The partnership with the music festival, held yearly near Hasselt, allows students to have a relevant and unique experience and proves to be an ideal environment for testing new technologies created at UC Leuven-Limburg.

Truth be told, keeping your smartphone's battery charged is becoming almost as important as making sure you don't miss your favourite band's performance at the main stage for a number of reasons (camping life at festivals can be exhausting, we know). UC Leuven-Limburg's Green Battery Solar Flower makes sure your batteries stay topped up so you can worry about things like locating your tent instead of your friends.

UC Leuven Limburg's information booths are powered by solar powered mobile energy unit which, at the same time, charges batteries that are being used once the sun goes down over Pukkelpop. Should the batteries run out by a lack of sunlight - this is Belgium, after all - then a generator powered by plant-based oil will take over the task of keeping everything powered.

The energy dance towers made a comeback at Pukkelpop. Two teams perform a dance battle on the energy floors and, by doing so, create enough energy to power the energy cans which provide the dance floor with music and lights

The heart of UC Leuven-Limburg's activities was the Control Room, made up of a lounge and VR-game area as well. A Think Tank speakers corner saw many guests giving inspirational talks about climate related issues. Flemish Minister for health Jo Vandeurzen as well as Leuven's deputy mayor Mohamed Ridouani paid a visit.

Another feature was the production of 3D printed keychains on the spot. Materials used from recycled plastic cups was given a new life in the shape of a keychain and given to participants of the dance battles or those who filled in surveys.

Last but not least, this year's edition of Pukkelpop had alpaca's. UC Leuven-Limburg carried out a campaign to raise awareness concerning the heaps of trash that are left behind after a festival. Many visitors leave their tents behind on the campsite, only adding to the already enormous pile of garbage. Alpaca My Tent Back Home was the campaign's slogan, encouraging visitors to take their tent back home, but not before taking a picture with one of the (cartboard) alpaca's and getting the chance to win tickets for next year's edition of Pukkelpop.

In any case, alpaca my bags for next year's edition, along with the UC Leuven-Limburg team.