Big events require lots of power. The 43rd Ryder Cup golf tournament that took place from September 24-26, 2021, at the Whistling Straits golf course in Kohler, Wisconsin was no exception. The 7,790-yard course on the shore of Lake Michigan hosted nearly 50,000 spectators each day of the three-day event. To make Ryder Cup a success required onsite power, heating, and cooling for over 100 tents and facilities, including the grandstands, catering and hospitality, giant spectator video screens, operations buildings, the PGA Championship Golf Shop, the International Pavilion, and the opening and closing ceremonies.
Scotland-based Aggreko, a leader in mobile and modular power solutions, was chosen to meet this wide range of power needs. Here are some of the highlights of the company’s efforts:
- Aggreko installed and operated 100 generators producing a total of 23,000 kW of electricity
- The company installed four 30 kW batteries
- Over 91 miles of cable were installed around the golf course
- The total installation period spanned 2.5 months, and 20 Aggreko staff members were on hand to make sure the setup went smoothly and the event ran without a hitch
- Aggreko deployed a 20 kW propane generator in place of a standard diesel model to power the Ryder Cup offices, reducing carbon emissions by 19 metric tons and cutting fuel costs by 30%
- LED light balloons in place of traditional light towers resulted in a further reduction of 160 metric tons of CO2
- Aggreko’s use of batteries during the daytime minimized generator use, keeping noise levels to a minimum so that fans were able to enjoy the competition and reducing carbon emissions by an additional 24 metric tons
“We’re proud to continue our longstanding relationship with the PGA to power this exciting event,” said Gary Meador, Aggreko Director of Event Services. “It’s a fascinating and complex challenge that we love to tackle.”
Kevin Clemens is a Senior Editor with Battery Technology.
