“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
Robert Swan, English explorer
Winter Sports World isn’t just building Australia’s first indoor ski resort – it’s setting a new benchmark for sustainability in sports and tourism.
On track to open in 2028 at Penrith in Western Sydney, our $700 million project promises year-round snow sports with a net-zero carbon footprint from day one.
In an industry often associated with heavy energy usage, Winter Sports World’s leadership proves that innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
We are embracing cutting-edge technologies and strategies to deliver a world-first sustainable winter sports facility that matters.
Net-zero from Day 1
CGI Render of WSW exterior
From the outset, Winter Sports World’s vision has been clear: operate as a carbon-neutral facility the moment doors open.
This commitment is not just ambitious; it really is unprecedented as a world-first for a building of its kind.
Indoor snow resorts have traditionally been energy-intensive ventures, often drawing scrutiny for their carbon emissions.
Winter Sports World will flip that script.
Rather than accepting a large carbon footprint as the cost of doing business, our project team has integrated sustainability into every layer of design and planning.
The result is a development that aligns with Australia’s national net-zero goals, offering a platform for engineers to innovate in large-scale, climate-resilient infrastructure.
It proves that major tourism infrastructure can advance economic growth while actively supporting climate targets.
Delivering a net-zero carbon operation for a facility that maintains a constant indoor -4°C year-round snow temperature requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy.
Key pillars of our net-zero game plan include:
- Low-carbon construction: reducing embodied carbon in building materials and construction processes
- All-electric operations: eliminating fossil fuel use on-site by relying entirely on electrical systems for heating, cooling and machinery (no gas or diesel equipment)
- Extreme energy efficiency: minimising energy use through smart design, including ground-breaking insulation and heat exchange technology that allows the snow dome to consume roughly the same power as a similarly sized office building. In other words, our energy demand per volume will be lower than an average shopping centre.
- On-site renewable energy: generating a large portion of the resort’s power with one of Australia’s largest building-mounted solar photovoltaic installations integrated into the facade and roof. The iconic icicle-inspired exterior panels will supply over 60 per cent of the facility’s electricity needs while also providing shade to naturally cool the building.
- Green power and offsets: purchasing 100 per cent renewable energy from the grid for any additional electricity demand beyond what the on-site solar can produce. By avoiding any coal or gas-fired power, Winter Sports World ensures that every kilowatt is sourced from clean energy. Any remaining emissions will be balanced with accredited carbon offsets.
It’s a blueprint that environmental strategists and industry leaders are watching closely.
Technologies driving sustainability
Delivering on these sustainability promises isn’t just lofty goals; it comes down to technology and smart engineering.
Winter Sports World is leveraging state-of-the-art solutions to slash energy consumption and even reuse energy in creative ways.
Advanced insulation and thermal management are at the core, and the building is designed as a highly efficient giant snow box, using novel insulation materials to lock in the cold where it’s needed and keep heat out.
The striking exterior design isn’t just aesthetic; the “icicle shard” facade is lined with solar panels and acts as a massive shade structure and solar farm.
Every electron powering the ski lifts, snowmakers and indoor chillers will be green.
Perhaps most impressively, Winter Sports World has turned a typical challenge of indoor ski venues into an opportunity: heat recovery.
Running a cold indoor snow area in a warm climate generates excess heat.
Rather than waste this by-product, we will use heat exchangers to capture the “free” heat and repurpose it for domestic hot water and space heating. As I told forbes.com.au recently, “Out in the snow box, we’re constantly capturing heat at about 65 degrees and we’re going to use heat exchangers to heat the water for the rooms and restaurants with that free heat.”
In essence, the venue recycles the heat energy, using it to warm other areas, which drastically cuts down additional energy requirements.
Beyond energy, other green technologies include an ingenious water recycling system.
The facility will harvest and reuse water from the very snow it creates, collecting and channelling condensation and melted snow back into snow-making machines.
A huge 1.6-million-litre underground water tank will store harvested rainwater, covering any shortfall for snow production, which means the snow slopes will largely sustain themselves.
Even the building’s surroundings play a role: a lush rooftop garden and extensive landscaping will help insulate the structure, improve air quality and create a cooling microclimate.
Social responsibility
Winter Sports World’s sustainability ethos goes beyond technology.
It’s about a holistic responsibility to the environment and the community.
It will provide a piece of social infrastructure for the people of Western Sydney, with gardens and walking/bicycle trails freely accessible to all.
Importantly, it will highlight First Nations culture and Country through landscape architecture, artworks and educational storytelling.
Winter Sports World is poised to become a major economic boon for the region, creating an estimated 1,350 jobs during construction and as many ongoing positions once operational.
Leading the charge
Winter Sports World’s approach is not just ticking boxes; it’s leading a paradigm shift in how we think about large-scale sports and leisure infrastructure.
By achieving net-zero carbon operations in an energy-intensive sector, Winter Sports World positions itself as a trailblazer and inspiration to similar projects globally.
There are more than 150 indoor ski centres in 35 countries, but none have yet claimed the kind of environmental credentials Winter Sports World is poised to deliver.
But sustainability and grand vision are not mutually exclusive.
Winter Sports World proves that sustainability can be a selling point and competitive advantage.
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment granted this project State Significant Development approval in January 2024, in part because of these strong sustainability measures.
We engaged sustainable design consultants and underwent a rigorous design competition that earned endorsement from the NSW Government Architect to ensure the final plans were iconic and eco-friendly.
By prioritising green innovation at every step, Winter Sports World has de-risked its future in an era of rising carbon prices and environmental accountability.
We’re not treating our net-zero pledge as a footnote – it’s front and centre, forming a core part of our identity.
By fusing cutting-edge sustainable technology with an unforgettable visitor experience, Winter Sports World is proving that big dreams don’t have to come with a big carbon bill.