Snowbird Uses Cogenerators To Cut CO2 Emissions

Snowbird ski resort in Utah has invested in it’s own power system fuelled by natural gas to meet its energy needs.

The new 5.3 megawatt cogeneration facility uses 62,000 less dekatherms of natural gas a year, equivalent to removing the carbon dioxide emissions produced from burning nearly 2,000 tonnes of coal.

“The creation of Snowbird Power Systems means we have not only updated our stand-alone power grid, ensuring we can be self-reliant, but we have also reinforced Snowbird’s Play Forever corporate responsibility commitment to the environment by becoming more efficient,” states Snowbird President and General Manager Dave Fields.

Snowbird’s new power system also recycles the heat produced through generating power with the heat used to warm water for the resort.

The system means Snowbird can generate its own power as required. If power goes out from outside sources the resort can produce 90% of the power it needs in winter from its cogeneration system, and 100% in the summer.

Snowbird is believed to be the only ski resort in North America using a cogeneration system, the new one 60% more efficient than an older version the resort operated but which had reached the end of its working life.