Generally, blue lifts go at a faster pace to green ski lifts. Be aware that you’ll have less time to get on and off the lift.
Skiing Blue Runs for the FIRST Time? READ THIS
by Simon Naylor | Updated: October 27th, 2022 | Skiing Articles
Blue circle.
Blue square.
Who are blue runs for?
Blue runs are not for first or second-day skiers. They are for early to middle intermediate skiers. Skiers who can at least make wedged turns left and right and are ready to practice on steeper terrain. Skiers should move from the green slope to the blue slope, only once they can stop on their left and right side. You can survive with a snowplough or pizza, but it won’t be very fun and you’ll be absolutely exhausted. Stick to the green slopes until you’re making left and right wedged turns and working towards parallel skiing.
Blue runs are not for skiers brand new skiers who can’t turn and can’t come to a stop on their edges facing parallel. Skiers who find green slopes very challenging should not move up to a blue slope.
How steep are blue runs?
In Europe blue runs are on average less steep than North American blues. Although each resort and country has slightly different grades, these are approximate averages for how steep blue slopes are:
| “> Blue Slope Average Angle | ||
| “> | “>Degrees ° | “>Percent % |
| “> Europe | “>11-17 | “>20-30 |
| “> North America | “>14-22 | “>25-30 |
Bear in mind that grading is done by the resort and are relative to other slopes within the resort. There is no independent standard and skiers should assume a range of difficulty from one blue to the next. Even the same blue slope in different snow conditions will dramatically affect the skiing difficulty. One day it may have fresh powder and the next it will be icy and full of moguls.
The best way to ski blue runs is with parallel skiing. Most new skiers won’t be at that stage yet, so the next best way is wedged turns. with wedged turns, you’ll be putting more weight on ski than the other and making a left and right pizza turn and working towards keeping your skis parallel. If you’re coming off of the green slopes, be aware that other skiers around you will be faster than you have been used to up until this point. Because the gradient will be steeper, it will be more challenging to make turns. To compensate many new skiers, lean back and have trouble committing to the turn. You must do the opposite, lean slightly forward and downhill and commit wholeheartedly to each turn by leaning your hips downhill.
Blue vs Green Hydrogen: Steering California’s Energy Transition Towards a Sustainable Future
California’s energy transition is in full swing, and hydrogen stands at one of the forefronts of this revolution. As a key player in achieving the state’s decarbonization goals, hydrogen offers an exciting prospect for clean energy. Even as discussions around color of hydrogen shift towards carbon intensity instead, two prominent colors still dominate the spectrum: blue and green. In this article, we will explore the role, production processes, and carbon footprint of blue and green hydrogen and discuss their implications for California’s energy sector.
Why the Various Colors?
For the last decade at least, many have associated colors to hydrogen – this was a way to “bucket” the various production methods based on their perceived carbon footprint. As technology has advanced and production applications have integrated various methods, the lines between the buckets have gotten blurred. Many in the industry are now advocating for attributing hydrogen by its actual carbon intensity value rather than a color. While this is necessary for determining incentives and measuring the real impact related to climate change, the colors still have a role in providing the rough framework for discussion and communication.
Blue Hydrogen: The Production and Role
Production Process: Generally, blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas through a method known as steam methane reforming (SMR). The process involves reacting natural gas with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide with a very simplified reaction shown below. This is generally understood as grey hydrogen.
What makes it blue is that the carbon dioxide is then captured using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and substantially reducing emissions.
Role in California’s Energy Sector: Blue hydrogen offers a transitional path from fossil fuel reliance toward cleaner energy sources. Very critically, it can be integrated into existing infrastructure – such as natural gas – providing a bridge to a low-carbon future without substantial disruptions. However, it does still rely on some form of carbon sequestration or utilization.
Green Hydrogen: The Production and Role
Production Process: Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources such as wind or solar to power an electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen as shown below.
Operationally, like renewable electricity itself, this method has a very low carbon intensity, i.e. very little direct carbon dioxide emissions. However, it uses significant amounts of water – a 10MW hydrogen fuel cell power plant, enough to power about 10,000 homes, requires about 17,000 gallons of water per day – and is difficult to match the demand for hydrogen due to variability of renewable power generation.
Role in California’s Energy Sector: Green hydrogen represents the pinnacle of clean energy transformation. It supports California’s commitment to renewable energy, providing a sustainable fuel for various applications, from transportation to industrial processes. The cost to produce is currently relatively high however many initiatives and deployment led innovation will help to drive costs down over the next two decades.
Carbon Footprint Comparison
Blue Hydrogen: Though blue hydrogen’s carbon footprint is significantly reduced through CCS, some emissions may still be associated with the process. The effectiveness of CCS and the source of natural gas can influence the overall environmental impact. For example, many are utilizing renewable natural gas collected from otherwise emitted sources such as dairies or landfills, to reduce the carbon footprint.
Green Hydrogen: With near-zero emissions in its production, green hydrogen’s carbon footprint is minimal. It exemplifies California’s aggressive push towards a carbon-neutral future, aligning with the state’s long-term sustainability goals. However, the full life cycle associated with the supply chain as well as water sourcing does add some emissions.
Balancing the Equation: Blue and Green Hydrogen in California
California’s energy transition requires a pragmatic approach that balances immediate needs with long-term ambitions. Blue hydrogen, and similar applications, offers a feasible and more immediate solution, allowing for a smoother transition, while green hydrogen provides the ultimate goal of low emissions.
Investment in both blue and green hydrogen technologies is vital. Blue hydrogen’s compatibility with existing infrastructure makes it an attractive short-term option, while green hydrogen’s environmental purity aligns with California’s future vision.
Blue and green hydrogen present different pathways towards California’s clean energy transition, along with many other production methods. By understanding their distinct roles, production processes, and carbon footprints, policymakers, energy companies, and stakeholders can craft a strategic approach that leverages both types of hydrogen.
Cornerstone Engineering’s expertise in hydrogen technologies and energy transition strategies can provide valuable insights and solutions tailored to California’s unique energy landscape.
Contact Eric Dhanens to discuss how Cornerstone Engineering can support your organization in navigating the complexities of hydrogen technology here.
#BlueHydrogen #GreenHydrogen #CaliforniaEnergyTransition #Decarbonization #CleanEnergyFuture
