Workers’ Daily
February 9, 2022
Four ice venues in the Beijing Winter Olympics use carbon dioxide transcritical direct cooling technology to make ice, saving more than 20% of the energy.
“Sustainable development was one of the top priorities in the Olympic preparation, said Li Sen, head of the planning department of the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee. The “greenest” ice in the history of Winter Olympics would be made in the National Speed Skating Oval, the Capital Indoor Stadium, the Capital Short Track Speed Skating Training Center and Wukesong Arena.
According to Beijing 2022 Olympics Games Sustainability Report released by the Organizing Committee ahead of the Games, carbon dioxide would be used as the refrigerant in the ice venues. It is so far the safest and greenest refrigerant available, with a global warming potential of 1 and an ozone depletion potential of 0. The vaporization of liquid carbon dioxide will absorb heat and turn water into ice. The heat absorbed can also be recycled. The technology is estimated to save energy by more than 20%.
The Ice Ribbon, Photo by Liu Bin, Workers’ Daily
And all six newly-built venues got the highest level of green building certification. And seven snow venues were built according to the highest green snow sports standards.
With more than 400 million KWH of wind and solar energy from Zhangjiakou, all the Olympics venues are powered by 100% renewable energy from June 2019 to the end of the Games.
Beijing is delivering a green Winter Olympics, achieving carbon neutrality with lower carbon emissions, more trees planted and carbon donations by businesses.
The Ice Ribbon, Photo taken by Qu Xinyue, Workers’ Daily
Rewritten by Wang Yizeng,Wang Yanqiang, Fudan University
