Winter Games prioritize clean energy for event venues

Organizers say nearly all electricity for the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games will come from certified renewable sources, with Enel supplying 85 gigawatt‑hours backed by guarantee of origin certificates. Organizers and experts note that indirect emissions from travel and accommodations remain the largest share of the Games' carbon footprint.

The Milan‑Cortina 2026 organizing committee has made energy a central part of its sustainability plan and pledged that Games‑time electrical energy will be 100% fed by certified renewable sources. Italy's largest electricity company, Enel, agreed to supply 85 gigawatt‑hours for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and bought guarantee of origin certificates to cover the event's electricity demand. In limited cases where temporary on‑site generation is needed, organizers said hydrotreated vegetable oil would replace traditional diesel. Observers and experts note the broader national grid mix and indirect emissions from travel and accommodations remain significant factors in the overall footprint. Key facts: - The organizing committee's sustainability report states Games‑time electrical energy will be 100% from certified renewable sources. - Enel is supplying 85 gigawatt‑hours and purchased guarantee of origin (GO) certificates on the market to cover the Games' demand. - A GO certificate corresponds to 1 megawatt‑hour of electricity produced from a certified renewable source and is canceled once used to prevent double counting. - For rare temporary power needs, hydrotreated vegetable oil is planned as a substitute for diesel. - Enel's preliminary 2025 data show nearly three‑quarters of its Italy production was carbon‑free, with large shares from hydropower and geothermal and smaller shares from wind and solar. - The organizing committee estimates the Games' greenhouse gas impact is driven largely by indirect activities such as spectator travel and accommodations, citing an emissions equivalence used in its strategy. Summary: Organizers present the energy plan as a way to reduce direct emissions at the Games and to demonstrate cleaner electricity options for large events. Undetermined at this time.