This was written before Saudi Arabia and the other COP28 parties agreed to “Transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.” Whatever that means. This project is still ridiculous.
The New York Times says, “Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading exporter of oil, has become the biggest obstacle to an agreement at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai.” But to be fair, they need those petrodollars. How else could they build Trojena, which His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman says will be a sustainable wonder:
“Trojena will redefine mountain tourism for the world by creating a place based on the principles of ecotourism, highlighting our efforts to preserve nature and enhance the community’s quality of life, which is aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. It also confirms our commitment to be part of the global effort to protect the environment.”
The resort, master-planned by German firm LAVA with buildings designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and others, is located in the mountains about 50 km from the coast near the border with Jordan. They are not wasting any time; according to Snow Brains,
Ground was broken for the Trojena mountain resort in 2022 and thus far a staggering 1.6 million cubic meters have been excavated for the lake site planned for Trojena. Basement works are underway for the vertical ski village, and nearly 1 million cubic tons of rock have been excavated and used for the creation of the lakebed. Furthermore, snow production and ski testing have been happening at the site.
Marriott is opening a W hotel built into the bow of the giant lake. The 475-meter-long and 145-meter-high structure (Hoover Dam is a little higher at 170 meters) will be built out of 2.7 million cubic meters of “roller compacted concrete (RCC).” RCC is often used on dams and is installed in foot-thick layers. It has less water and cement and more fly ash, so less heat is generated while it sets. It’s about 13% cement, so building the dam will emit 1,107,000 tonnes of CO2. But wait, there’s more; “Some 650,000 cubic metres of RCC will be used to build a dam within the planned lake to create an island below the water level. This kidney-shaped dam will have a height of 38 metres and will be 700 metres long.”
The lake is filled with desalinated water pumped up through a meter-wide tunnel. Desalinization consumes 2.271kWh per cubic meter, usually generated with natural gas. For about three months of the year, it will be pumped up to snow guns to cover the refrigerated trails. Snowmaking consumes about 4 kWh per cubic meter of snow, but somehow, this will all be different, according to manager Philip Gullett":
“Many countries have beautiful mountain destinations, but what makes Trojena stand out is the fact that it is sustainable and powered by renewable energy and is a year-round mountain destination offering diversified experiences way beyond winter sports.”
"The best temperatures for making snow are between -5°C (23°F) and -25°c (-13°F). Too warm, ski resort owners report and their machines are too expensive to run. The ideal conditions are dry and cold. Only for a short window, in January, do temperatures at the proposed Trojena site, dip below 0°C.”
To get everything from the coast to the mountain, a 4.4 km “Time Travel Tunnel” is being drilled, which will have a funicular railway connecting the Visitor Center to The Vault, which contains 450 residences and 1,000 hotel rooms, along with gamified vistas and a cogniverse.
“The Vault aims to support Neom’s core principles, such as sustainability and the preservation of land. The project prides itself on its fresh approach to building a city, as it is designed to minimize land take and maximize walkability.”
There is also a 330-meter tall tower designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. "Elegant and monumental, this iconic tower will combine high-end retail, dining and the dream-like experience of living in the clouds. This iconic commercial, high-rise tower will provide a rich platform for groundbreaking and tech-infused artistic content and experiences."
700,000 tourists are expected to fly in every year, which doesn’t seem like many, given that the government of Ontario predicts four to six million visitors to its little spa on the Toronto waterfront.
Meanwhile, back in Dubious Dubai at COP28, when writing this, there has yet to be an agreement thanks to objections from Saudi Arabia and other Opec countries. According to the Financial Times,
”Ministers from around the world have accused Riyadh of piling pressure on Sultan al-Jaber, COP28 president and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to shift the text’s focus away from fossil fuels.”
And really, who can blame the Saudis? How else would we get a sustainable wonder like Trojena? How would we desalinate the water and turn it into snow? How would we fly 700,000 people there? Those ministers from around the world have to get their priorities straight.
The second problem they face, the snow will evaporate too! No matter what surface they put beneath it, those dry winds will take much of the snow water with them.
Greed knows no sufficiency.
The second problem they face, the snow will evaporate too! No matter what surface they put beneath it, those dry winds will take much of the snow water with them.