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    Volvo Collaborates on Fossil-Free Ski Resort in Stockholm

    Feb. 20, 2024
    The electric solutions will undergo testing for the remainder of the ski season to understand operations and provide valuable insights for their use at other ski resorts
    SkiStar
    65d4c396bc8849001e90b637 Skistar

    Hammarbybacken ski resort in Stockholm is using an L25 electric wheel loader from Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and a PU500 power unit, a battery energy storage system (BESS) with an integrated charger, from Volvo Energy to showcase the possibility of fossil-free ski resorts.

    The electric wheel loader and power unit are joined with other electric-powered equipment, including an electric snowmobile and snow groomer at the ski resort, which is operated by Sweden’s ski operator, SkiStar. 

    The electric solutions will undergo testing for the remainder of the ski season to understand operations and provide valuable insights for their use at other ski resorts.

    "The pilot project at Hammarbybacken is intended to show that it is possible to make ski resorts more sustainable and provide a more enjoyable experience for everyone. And at the end of the day, if we want to ensure winter sports are still around for future generations to enjoy, we all need to play our part," said Niklas Wahlberg, VP of Partnership and Systems Solutions at Volvo Group. 

    The L25 electric delivers zero emission with low noise and is ideal for use in sensitive and tranquil locations like ski resorts. It is also suitable for use at altitudes with thin air conditions, such as on mountain ski slopes. 

    The L25 electric includes compact wheel loaders and excavators, as well as the mid-size EC230 electric and L120H electric conversion. The latest addition to the portfolio is a grid-connected EW240 electric material handler.

    A PU500 mobile BESS with an integrated charger provided by Volvo Energy supplies power for the electric solutions at Hammarbybacken. The power unit brings around 330-400 kWh of capacity to sites in locations like ski resorts where access to the grid is weak or non-existent. 

    In Hammarbybacken, the power unit is supplied with 86 kWh of electricity from the grid, sourced from hydropower, to charge all electric solutions on-site, irrespective of brand.

    Volvo Energy is utilizing second-life batteries in the PU500 at Hammarbybacken. Swecon Anlaggningsmaskin will offer service and support for the Volvo L25 electric and PU500 mobile charging unit.

    Volvo Group aims to have 100% fossil-free vehicles by 2040 to achieve zero emissions by 2050.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.