InfraStructures - February 2010 - Aggreko Equipment Hitting the Slopes in Vancouver

Aggreko Equipment Hitting the Slopes in Vancouver

With hours to go until the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Winter Games, Aggreko, the global leader in temporary power generation, temperature control and oil-free compressed air solutions, has dozens of technicians on the ground in Vancouver, installing and fine tuning equipment at the venues for the big event.

As the Official Supplier of Temporary Power and Temperature Control Solutions, Aggreko will support BC Hydro, the primary provider of clean hydro-electric energy, by providing temporary power, heating and cooling equipment at all of the Vancouver and Whistler venues throughout the Games. These venues include: the BC Place Stadium for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies; various celebration sites; the Main Media Centre; the Whistler Broadcast and Press Centre; the Olympic and Paralympic Villages in Vancouver and Whistler; and all competition venues.

“The Olympic Games are the epitome of sporting events, with a worldwide audience in the billions,” said George Walker, president, Aggreko North America. “The elements that are Aggreko’s responsibility – designing and installing temporary power distribution, cooling and heating infrastructure – are crucial to the overall success of the event. We’ve been working with the event organizers and BC Hydro for more than a year to coordinate all of our efforts, and now it’s time to put that plan into action.”

The Vancouver Olympic Winter Games represent the largest temporary heating project in Aggreko’s history, with 90% of the heating requirements used for snow-melting applications. By January, more than 2700 pieces of Aggreko equipment had been installed by the 85-strong Aggreko crew, including 40 MW of electric heaters, 90 MW of stand-by and primary generators and power distribution, and 400 km of cable.

Aggreko’s presence at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games requires extensive coordination and expertise. Aggreko will provide stand-by power at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC). In addition, Aggreko will provide the main power supply to the opening and closing ceremonies and medal ceremonies at BC Place. At the UBC Thunderbird Arena, which is hosting the opening round of the ice hockey competition, Aggreko is working with organizers to convert a practice rink into a temporary locker room and office space infrastructure. In addition, nearly all of the mountain venues are temporary, requiring huge amounts of heat – primarily to melt snow to prevent it from collecting on the roofs of temporary structures and endangering them.

Aggreko has a wealth of experience providing power and temperature control to the most high profile events in the world, including eight Olympic Games, the U.S. Presidential Inauguration, the Ryder Cup and the Daytona 500.

Source: Aggreko