Ski Resort Upgrades Chairlift to Reduce Emissions and Lower Operating Costs

Source: · ERA · | September 17, 2021

Source: ERA

Cold winters are critical for ski and snowboard resort operators. At the same time, tight margins, aging equipment, and capital expenditures can create their own challenging environment. At 95-years-young, Mount Norquay is taking steps to reduce its emissions to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and drive down the cost of their operations while doing it.

Earlier this year, the ski resort just 6-kilometres outside of the Town of Banff installed a new variable frequency drive (VFD) on its four-person, fixed-grip Cascade Chairlift. The technology investment is expected to significantly reduce the amount of electricity to run the lift and reduce over 900 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over its lifetime.

Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) Energy Savings for Business program committed over $12,000 in incentives for the upgrade.

“This piece of machinery has been in operation for 20 years and this funding helped us retrofit it with new technology that will make it run smoother, be more efficient, and use less electricity,” said Andre Quenneville, general manager for Mount Norquay.

Cascade can move almost 2,000 people per hour up just shy of 500 feet of elevation in under 5 minutes. From there, skiers and snowboarders can access a range of beginner runs or connect with other lifts —Spirt and Mystic —that boast intermediate and expert runs from Silver Legacy to Giver Grandi. Cascade is typically the first chair accessed by visitors to the resort and needs to set a lasting impression.