Serre Chevalier installs second hydroelectric turbine
Serre Chevalier has added another element to its €3.6 million ‘Renewable Energy Programme’ by adding a second hydroelectric turbine. The programme has been underway in Serre Chevalier since 2016, and will mean that the ski resort will be able to meet its target of producing 30% of its own electricity consumption by the end of...
New study exposes FIS “greenwashing”
In the week of its Annual Congress, FIS is starting to show some signs of movement on sustainability, according to a new update from Protect Our Winters (POW). There are hints that the race calendar will be changed to reduce transatlantic travel and be delayed in its start by a week. The appointment of a...
Ski Flight Free featured in ‘Mountain Planet
We were delighted to see this mention for Ski Flight Free in the latest edition of Mountain Planet’s ‘Innovation Book’ on sustainability:
CM DUPON releases world’s first standard electric snow groomer
French snow groomer manufacturer CM Dupon has launched the world’s first fully electric snow groomer of standard size, designed at the request of Compagnie des Alpes (CDA). After testing in La Plagne last winter, the pre-production model of the Alpine B400 will go into operation this winter, with the company in discussion with several French...
‘Which?’ finds rail travel not as expensive for families as flying
According to research from the consumer website ‘Which?’ families can save money travelling by train, when compared to flying. The study looked specifically at the cost of air travel versus the cost of overnight train travel, which is currently enjoying a renaissance in continental Europe. Which? Notes that flights often seem cheaper in the first...
We need a Frequent Flyer Levy to address the inequality of flight use
How many flights do you take a year? Purely from the fact that you’re reading this on Ski Flight Free, the chances are that you may at least be trying to cut down. The aviation sector is projected to be the single biggest source of emissions in the UK by 2050 due to the steadily...
Hotelplan announce two new climate partnerships
As the next step in its sustainability strategy, Hotelplan has announced two new climate partnerships worth more than £1 million with Klimate and Rewilding Britain. More recent developments in the group’s carbon mitigation strategy have seen a move away from traditional avoidance-based carbon offsetting towards carbon removal and rewilding. “Protecting the planet that we and...
Case Study: Taking the train from the UK to Arinsal, Andorra
Tom Thorp recently contacted us after listening to Iain talking about train travel on The Ski Podcast: “I’ve been enjoying your podcast, thank you for all your work creating interesting episodes and insights.” Tom is a ski instructor, working both in the UK and regularly in the European mountains. He specifically wanted to share his...
Ski Racers call for FIS to take Climate Action
Last month over one hundred ski racers signed an open letter to FIS, coordinated by Protect Our Winters ambassador Julian Schütter. The letter, most recently updated on 10 March, has now been signed by over 450 athletes, including stars like Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, demands greater action from FIS and transparency on the...
5 ways Alpe d’Huez is reducing emissions
SATA Group – the company that manages the lifts in Alpe d’Huez – has been working on practical ways to reduce their emissions as part of their goal to achieve Net Zero by 2037. This is a quick look at some of the policies they have put in place already, with other measures lined up...
It’s time to end private jets to the Alps
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak loves a private jet. Last month Sunak took three trips by private jet in just over a week, including flying from London to Blackpool and London to Leeds, both journeys that could have been done by train in two and a half to three hours. The UK is in fact...
New Solar Panels for Meribel
Méribel has joined the increasing number of ski resorts to deploy solar panels on their ski lifts. This winter look out for the unique PV panels on the roof of the mid-station of the Saulire Express gondola. In the summer of 2022, 182 solar panels, measuring one meter by two meters each, were installed covering an...