Broadcasters and concert promoters are increasingly being asked about their sustainability credentials, as clients and audiences hold companies accountable for their environmental footprint.

Rechargeable battery solutions can cut costs, increase performance, and reduce environmental impact

Norwegian company Klvr is demonstrating its Charger Pro solution, to eliminate the huge cost and environmental impact of single-use batteries at the ISE Show held in Fira de Barcelona this week. It delivers cost reduction and performance benefits for recording studios, live entertainment, outside broadcast and pro AV environments that uses batteries in their wireless microphones and wifi equipment.

The Klvr Charger Pro enables sound engineers and AV professionals in music venues, production studios, conference halls, universities, houses of worship, and hospitality to eliminate the cost and environmental impact of single-use batteries. 

Greek broadcaster Alpha TV used to use 20,000 disposable batteries every year to keep mics and other devices running during live productions, now the broadcaster uses just over 400 rechargeable Klvr batteries, according to Chief Technology Officer Antonis Stantzos.

Founded in Norway by sound engineers and music artists, Klvr created a rechargeable battery solution that is “purpose-built for pro audio environments.”

Disposable AA and AAA batteries are still widely used in wireless microphones, in-ear monitoring and other devices because of a lack of feasible rechargeable options. Many are thrown away with excess capacity remaining.

Proprietary rechargeable batteries and chargers from major equipment manufacturers can be costly and incompatible with devices from different vendors, Consumer-grade rechargeables aren’t adequate in professional environments due to insufficient voltage and reliability that may cause them to cut out in the middle of a live performance.

Mikael Svensson, an engineer for the Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, said: “Shipping and travel costs rack up quickly when you’re taking kilos of production gear on tour with bands and artists. Charger Pro is light, compact and perfect for touring. The batteries are excellent quality and work across any kind of device, so you’re not locked into proprietary products from audio manufacturers. We now do one Klvr battery change for every three we used to with regular batteries, taking away so much cost and complexity from global tours.”

Roxette stage rack including Klvr battery charger rack unit

Klvr uses a 19 inch rack-mounted charger and high-performance custom made 1.5V Li-Ion standard-sized AA and AAA batteries. Each battery has 1200 charging cycles and a 30% higher runtime than regular commercial rechargeables, along with a linear discharge curve and monitoring system to maximise performance and power visibility throughout the full battery lifetime. Each charger holds 48 batteries that recharge in under 3 hours for the Triple A size and 2 hours Double As.

In a report titled Farewell to Disposable Batteries, the Norwegian grant organisation Kulturrom estimated that Norway’s entertainment industry alone uses over 1 million disposable batteries every year. Extrapolated internationally that represents a huge impact on the environment, just from battery wastage and disposal.

Klvr Charger Pro is available to purchase directly or from a range of distribution partners across major global markets.  See  https://klvr.no/quote

Here is more about the audio exhibitors at ISE26 Barcelona this week.

Reporting from Europe: Steve Ahern