As the Thames snakes its way through Greenwich, few buildings stand out quite like The O2. Originally built to mark the dawn of a new century and formerly referred to as the “White Elephant”, it is now one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment venues.
Under the stewardship of AEG, The O2 has undergone a transformation few could have predicted. In 2024, The O2 welcomed over 10 million visitors-a record-breaking figure that includes not only ticketed eventgoers, but also shoppers, diners, cinema audiences and leisure seekers. This 12% increase in footfall from the previous year reflects its growing role as a multi-functional cultural hub, far beyond its original remit as an events venue.
The Challenge: Scale, Sustainability & Smarter Operations
This growing popularity has been mirrored by an expansion in both digital infrastructure and AV scale. Yet, as with any venue of this magnitude, The O2 faced a mounting challenge: how to deliver visually rich experiences without escalating operating costs and environmental impact at the same pace.
Large-format LED displays have long played a central role in engaging visitors, from the mid-tier ribbon wrapping the arena bowl to digital signage scattered across the entertainment district and retail areas. But behind the vibrant visuals sat a silent problem: power consumption. The more screens went up, the more complex and costly they became to manage.
“We’ve always seen LED as the perfect medium for delivering high-impact, reliable visuals across the venue,”explains Stuart Edwards, Technology Director at The O2.
“But as we scaled, energy costs rose sharply. The pandemic laid this bare. Even with no guests in the building, our screens were drawing power, even when they weren’t visibly on.”
It raised an uncomfortable question: how could The O2 continue expanding its digital footprint without also scaling waste?
A Hidden Problem: The Cost of Standby Power
It’s a little-known truth in the AV world: LED displays can draw up to 18% of their peak power consumption even when displaying a black screen (LED screens version of standby). Multiply that by thousands of square metres of display left on overnight in standby, and the cost-both financial and environmental, starts to become substantial. You might ask: “Why not just switch them off? Technically, it’s possible. But doing so isn’t without consequences”.
“Powering screens down at the wall triggers an inrush of current when they’re turned back on,” says Tom Mudd, Technical Manager at digiLED. “That surge stresses internal components, risks tripping circuits, and in some cases causes permanent damage.”
This “dirty secret” of standby power had long bothered Tom, but it was the pandemic that gave him and his team the time to develop a solution.
Introducing digiLED ZEUS (Zero Energy Use System)
During the Covid-19 downtime, digiLED prototyped digiLED ZEUS® - a technology designed to eliminate power draw entirely when displays are not in use, without causing damage on reboot.
“The idea was simple: give operators full control to cut standby LED screen energy use to zero, safely,” says Tom. “We launched digiLED ZEUS® just as energy prices were soaring. The timing couldn’t have been better”.
The O2 was the first venue in the world to trial digiLED ZEUS®. The technology was initially deployed on the arena’s 244-metre mid-tier LED ribbon-a digital wraparound that transforms the bowl into an immersive canvas. Unlike many arenas, The O2 allows performers and touring productions to take full control of the ribbon and incorporate it into their show. This flexibility is made possible through a DISGUISE media server system that integrates directly with16million of pixels across Arena.
“The ability to wrap show content around the entire crowd adds a layer of immersion that’s hard to match,” explains Tom.
With digiLED ZEUS® installed, The O2 gained the ability to enter a true standby mode-one where no energy is consumed, no damage is caused, and power can be restored seamlessly.
"Sustainability for us is about empowering our customers with innovative tools like digiLED ZEUS® to achieve significant energy savings without complexity. It's the most effective way we can support the environment while making life easier for the teams using our displays-no behaviour changes needed," says Tom.
Custom Engineering in a Live Venue
Almost 2000 square metres of digiLED LED displays have been installed across The O2 campus-each with its own architectural and logistical challenges. “Every display is bespoke” says Tonie Wishart, Installation Manager at digiLED. “We’re working within an existing building shell, so retrofits must be precisely engineered. There’s also the fact that this is a live venue-installations must happen between events, often overnight, with minimal disruption to live events schedule and heavy footfall.”
“Crucially, this retrofit approach brings more than just logistical benefits. By reusing existing structures and integrating into the original infrastructure, The O2 avoids the need for extensive new materials. This significantly reduces the environmental impact of each deployment. This is one of digiLED’s strengths as we are not tied to one factory, allowing us to source and design the best products for every single scenario” says Tonnie-with studies showing that reusing structural materials can save up to 12 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of material preserved. It’s a practical way to lower embodied carbon and extend the life of AV infrastructure without compromising on performance.
Real Impact: Carbon and Cost Reductions
The numbers speak for themselves. Since adopting digiLEDZEUS®, The O2 is saving £75,000 annually on previously wasted standby LED screen energy costs. Carbon output will be slashed by thousands of tonnes over the 10-yearscreen lifetimes – with full tracking in place to support internal sustainability targets.
“It’s been a game changer,” says Stuart Edwards, Project Manager at The O2. “We now have data showing exactly how much energy and carbon we’re saving. That kind of visibility has transformed how we think about our entire AV infrastructure-it’s not just a cost; it’s part of our sustainability strategy.”
These results have helped the venue align more closely with AEG’s wider ESG goals-adding operational resilience to an already future-focused site.
Unlocking New Revenue Streams
While reducing waste is key, the success of digiLED ZEUS® has also opened doors to new commercial opportunities. Event spaces like The O2 are increasingly looking to maximise their estates outside of live event schedules. Digital signage, particularly LED plays a major role in this strategy.
Whether promoting upcoming shows, partner adverts or wayfinding content, these screens are now key revenue drivers. “Screens are now part of the business model,”says Stuart. “But if they’re not running24/7, the standby energy costs can quickly offset any future revenue. digiLEDZEUS® helps us maximise ROI”.
As screens become more cost-effective and creative form factors become viable including curved façades and seamless architectural wraps -The O2 has begun to experiment with large exterior displays that serve both promotional and commercial functions.
One such example is the installation of a giant custom curved digiLED display outside the main entrance, cleverly designed to fit into an existing curved structure, whilst adhering to pre-existing planning permissions and structural factors. These attract and inform footfall, while also offering high-value ad inventory. With digiLEDZEUS® in place, these screens no longer must be a drain when not in use. During colder months the screen automatically runs ZEUS’s “winter warm” feature keeping condensing risks at bay.
Looking ahead
The O2’s pioneering use of digiLEDZEUS® has already sparked interest from other major venues facing similar challenges. As the demand for immersive digital experiences continues to grow, the ability to deliver them responsibly is becoming more than just a value-add-it’s a requirement.
For AEG and The O2, innovation isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about setting standards and where possible leading the charge when it comes to new ideas. WithdigiLED ZEUS®, they’ve done exactly that, proving that high-impact AV can be both smart and sustainable.
Written by Ross Noonan - digiLED