Event organizers, with support from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), were tasked with minimizing the use of diesel and gas generators in line with the community’s sustainability goals. Key festival infrastructure, including a broadcast truck stationed in a grid-inaccessible mountain area, needed a reliable power source without the noise and emissions of traditional generators. Greenwave Rentals, known for its expertise in clean energy solutions, rose to the occasion with a cutting-edge battery system to meet the festival’s off-grid power needs.

Delivering clean power at a remote alpine event required close collaboration. Greenwave Rentals worked in partnership with Canada Snowboard, Work Happy Productions, and local electrical contractor Whistler Electric to design and implement a seamless solution. Canada Snowboard (a major festival partner) and Work Happy Productions (the event production team) coordinated with Greenwave to integrate the power plan into the festival’s operations, ensuring competition broadcasts and venue activities had uninterrupted electricity. Whistler Electric provided on-site technical support and distribution expertise, helping connect the temporary power system safely to the broadcast equipment. This joint effort ensured that the switch to sustainable energy was smooth, with all partners aligned on reducing the event’s carbon footprint.

Greenwave Rentals technical team deployed two 150 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) trailers to handle the off-grid power demand. These portable battery units were strategically rotated throughout the festival to maintain continuous power for the broadcast truck and recharged from British Columbia’s clean electric grid between uses. (Notably, 98% of B.C.’s grid electricity comes from clean, renewable sources, primarily hydropower.) To manage the potential need for increased demand a diesel generator was integrated into the system as a hybrid, programmed to automatically start only if the battery’s charge fell below a set threshold. This configuration meant the broadcast operations ran primarily on silent, emissions-free battery power, with the generator acting as a safety net for reliability.

BESS Trailer Key Features:

Greenwave’s operators managed the rotation schedule of the two trailers, recharging during downtime. By leveraging BC’s hydroelectric grid to recharge, the team maximized the use of renewable energy and kept on-site generator runtime to a minimum. The technical expertise and planning behind this system demonstrated Greenwave’s emphasis on reliable performance even under demanding, off-grid conditions.

The impact of Greenwave’s clean power solution was significant. Over the course of the festival, the battery power trailers saved an estimated 549 liters of diesel fuel that would have been burned if conventional generators had run continuously. This translates to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. (For perspective, burning a single gallon of diesel produces about 10,180 grams of CO₂  – roughly 2.7 kg per liter – so avoiding 549 L of diesel prevented on the order of 1.4 metric tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere). In addition to the emissions savings, the battery units’ quiet operation drastically reduced noise pollution on the event grounds. Athletes, spectators, and media crews benefited from the near-silent power delivery – a stark contrast to the constant drone of a diesel generator. This not only improved the ambient experience for festival-goers but also helped the broadcast audio, as commentators and microphones were free from background engine noise. The backup generators on the BESS trailers ran only intermittently, thanks to careful energy management, further keeping noise and fuel use to a minimum.

Greenwave Rentals’s successful delivery at WSSF underscores the company’s reputation for technical expertise and reliability in clean energy. The company is a leading provider of clean, portable battery generator solutions, known for delivering “quiet, reliable, and emissions-free power” for projects and events of all kinds . Chris Martz, Managing Director of Greenwave Rentals, highlighted the significance of the Whistler project in demonstrating the future of event power:

“Greenwave Rentals is committed to providing clean energy solutions that never compromise on reliability,” said Martz. “Our work at the Whistler Ski and Snowboard Festival showcased how we can deliver sustainable, dependable power even in remote, challenging environments. By using battery technology in place of traditional generators, we eliminated most of the emissions and noise while still keeping the event running flawlessly. We’re proud to help set a new standard for green power at major events, and we look forward to partnering with more organizations to do the same.”

Martz’s remarks reinforce Greenwave’s mission to make diesel-free event power a reality without sacrificing performance. The Whistler festival project demonstrated that with the right expertise and equipment, clean energy can go head-to-head with fossil fuel generators and come out on top.

Greenwave Rentals invites other event organizers and businesses to consider the advantages of battery-based power. From sports competitions to film productions and community events, those looking to reduce their environmental footprint and noise impact can reach out to Greenwave for tailored clean-energy solutions. With its proven track record and innovative technology, Greenwave is ready to help more clients ditch the diesel and plug into reliable, sustainable power for their events.