China ‘may install’ CO₂ rinks at 2022 Olympics

Chinese real estate developer Vanke, Finnish refrigeration company Huurre and building technology designer Granlund – another Finnish company – are teaming up to bring greener ice rinks to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

“Due to Vanke’s deep-rooted commitment to environmentally sound operations, we welcome Huurre’s expertise in the green fully digitalised and automated CO₂ refrigeration technology and Granlund’s experience in environmentally solid building technology design” says Shawn Liu, SVP of China Vanke Co., Ltd. in a press release.

Given Huure’s decision to highlight its work with CO₂ technology in its press release, then assuming that design and installation proceed as planned, it seems likely that this collaboration will produce one of the first CO₂ ice rink installations in China. 

“Huurre highly respects China’s commitment to the reduction of harmful emissions, and sees cooperation with Vanke and Granlund as the best way to advance this positive development,” says JT Bergqvist, chairman and CEO of Huurre.

As part of preparations for what China calls the Beijing 2022 “Green” Winter Olympics, the country will build lots of winter sport facilities and hundreds of new ice rinks.

“Co-operation with Vanke and Huurre will open Granlund new important opportunities to contribute to the environmentally solid design of the energy-intense ice rink building,” says Pekka Metsi, CEO and partner at Granlund Oy.