Party, pellets and podium places: this is how the fans in Adelboden are warmed up

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

Fossil fuels? As is known, it is a major problem for the environment. At the ski races in Adelboden, which take place on January 6 and 7, the organizers use wood pellets instead of petroleum for the festival tents. “We have been looking for alternatives to oil heating and have tested various pellet solutions in recent years,” says Christian Haueter, Managing Director of Ski-Weltcup Adelboden AG.

Finally found what they were looking for: a local provider from Adelboden rents out mobile pellet stoves that are ideal. “During the test phase we only used pellet stoves in smaller tents, but now we use them to heat the total area of ​​5,700 square meters,” says Haueter. In concrete terms, the pellet stoves are used in four tents. In a small tent on a slope, the oil heater is still in operation. “For the subsequent event, we aim to adapt the temporary infrastructure so that we can equip this one tent with pellet heating.”

Wood pellets instead of petroleum

In total, approximately 16 tons of pellets will be needed this year. These are supplied by AEK Pellet AG, a company of the BKW Group. “We are the second largest pellet producer in Switzerland,” says Peter Lehmann, head of sales. “We produce approximately 60,000 tons of pellets annually. This can heat 15,000 single-family homes for a year.”

The pellets are made from so-called waste wood. These are sawdust and wood shavings supplied by regional sawmills, carpenters and carpenters. The pellets are stored in silos – one per tent in Adelboden. “From there they are transported via a compressed air system to the heating system and burned. The air heated by the pellets is blown into the tents through pipes, creating a pleasant and cozy warmth,” Lehmann explains.

Digital monitoring of the heating appliances

During the event it is important to closely monitor the pellet level. “If the outside temperatures are very low, a subsequent delivery may be necessary.” But there are plenty of pellets available, says Peter Lehmann, laughing.

The advantage of pellets? «You are CO₂-neutral. Wood only releases a limited amount of CO when burned₂ how it stores itself as it grows.” Petroleum, on the other hand, has a CO₂-Emissions of approx. 0.27 kg per kilowatt hour of heating power. In terms of quantity, one liter of fuel oil corresponds to approximately 2 kilograms of pellets. Thanks to AEK pellets, approximately 8,000 liters of fuel oil and therefore approximately 21,000 kilograms of CO are produced in Adelboden₂ stored.

“Ecological sustainability has been a problem for us for a long time,” says Christian Haueter from Ski-Weltcup Adelboden AG. “In 2017 we created the first sustainability concept. We are supported by our partner BKW, who is committed to more sustainability in snow sports.”

For example, Enerpeak, a company from the BKW group, carried out an energy analysis for the races in Adelboden, which prompted the decision to use more pellet heating systems. “The energy analysis also showed us where we can become more efficient and leverage synergies,” says Haueter.

Sustainability tool for events

Ski World Cup Adelboden AG also uses the BKW sustainability tool, which can be used to determine in a very targeted manner how events can be organized even better. All relevant domains are discussed: from energy consumption to the catering sector to waste management and clothing.

“We are an outdoor event, so our staff wears high-quality clothing. When our clothing is replaced, the worn items go to a relief organization. Last time it was in Kazakhstan,” says Christian Haueter.

Things also need to progress in the field of nutrition. «In the future we would like to have even more vegetarian and vegan alternatives on site. But we don’t want to give up meat completely. A good mix is ​​important.”

Where possible, products from the region or Switzerland are used. “The shorter the transport routes, the better for the environment. So we will not have dishes with avocado or mango.”

Save on truck rides

Ski World Cup Adelboden AG also takes care of most of the logistics itself. “A large event requires a relatively large amount of material. We have our own truck drivers who drive it where it is needed. This means there are significantly fewer journeys than if each supplier did it themselves.”

One goal for the future is to electrify the entire fleet. “Individual suppliers already deliver with electric trucks.”

Another important point is private transport, which is known to have a significant impact on the environment. “We recommend traveling to Frutigen by public transport and then using the shuttle service,” says Christian Haueter.

An important event in winter CO₂-neutral, however, is hardly realistic, he continues. “But where we can, we try to improve.”

Peter Lehmann from AEK Pellets is happy to help you. “It makes us proud that we can play a role in making our world more sustainable and living spaces more livable,” he says. He welcomes BKW’s strategy to promote sustainability through a wide variety of measures at different levels. ‘There is no one system that will save our world. Many small solutions are needed.”

Source : Blick