Feb 07, 2025 – On February 7th-8th, Trillevallen will host the Telemark World Cup, setting a new standard for sustainability in winter sports by showcasing innovative solutions to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
This initiative is a collaborative effort led by Green Mind and the 2030 Secretariat, alongside the Swedish Telemark Federation, the Swedish Ski Federation, Trillevallen, Fly Green Fund, St1, Swedavia, Åre/Östersund Airport, and Europcar.
It’s amazing that Telemark, as a small sport with limited resources, is stepping up and leading the way. Olle Collberg, National Team Athlete and Captain of the Swedish Telemark Federation The focus of the Telemark World Cup in Trillevallen has been on developing more sustainable transport solutions for athletes, teams, and officials.
This includes implementing renewable jet fuel (Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF) produced by St1 in Gothenburg for participants’ flights. SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks that reduces emissions from air transportation. Studies indicate that SAF has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by up to 94%, (depending on the feedstock and the technology pathway).
Fly Green Fund calculates the SAF required to replace an equivalent amount of conventional fuel, managing all SAF purchases. This process occurs at Landvetter Airport in Gothenburg.
For transportation to and from the airport, and between this event and the next competition in Norway, Europcar provides rental cars powered by either:
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Electricity: Electric vehicles produce 4.6x fewer GHG emissions per year compared to fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Over the vehicle’s complete lifecycle, EV emissions in Europe are 66-69% lower than those of comparable gasoline cars.
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Hydrated Vegetable Oil (HVO) 100 (100% pure renewable): Reports indicate that HVO fuel can reduce GHG emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fossil fuels. The goal is for snow groomers to also run on HVO 100 instead of conventional diesel.
In addition to the above, the entire Trillevallen ski resort, including its buildings and ski lifts, already operates on renewable electricity from Vattenfall, a Swedish multinational power company. Vattenfall aims to completely transition away from fossil fuel power by 2040, sourcing electricity from renewables such as wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, biomass, waste, and natural gas.
[This initiative] demonstrates that by bringing together the right people, supported by their organizations, who share the same goal, it is possible to achieve significant change with limited resources. We hope this will create a ripple effect and inspire other events to make a difference. – Maria Stenström, Head of Behavioral MATTERS at the 2030 Secretariat and Co-founder of Green Mind As climate change accelerates, the availability of snow in Nordic countries and beyond is diminishing. Winter sports must adapt to these changing conditions, which could mean longer travel distances for international events.
In response, the Telemark World Cup marks a significant step forward in mitigating the environmental impact of winter sports, ensuring they remain responsible despite any potential increase in travel demand. Not only have solutions been proposed, but they are also actively demonstrated, setting a precedent for future events.
In the later years of my 15-year career, it has become significantly more common for our competitions to be canceled due to a lack of snow. Because of the warmer climate, it may become more difficult to organize competitions in the Alps in the future, which means that winter sports will likely need to turn to the Nordic region more often for events. I think this project is incredibly important because it shows that with commitment, it is already possible to make winter sports more sustainable! – Olle Collberg, National Team Athlete and Captain of the Swedish Telemark Federation By demonstrating successful efforts in reducing fossil fuel use and GHGs, the Telemark World Cup aligns with the Swedish Ski Federation’s long-term sustainability efforts.
The hope is to create a ripple effect in the winter sports community, encouraging other events to follow suit, such as the Alpine World Cup in Åre on March 8–9.
Through collaborative effort, the Telemark World Cup showcases viable solutions to ensure winter sports remain a responsible part of the world’s sporting landscape for generations to come.
