The Genesis Scottish Open, which gets underway at Renaissance Club this week, is set to be one of the most sustainable golf tournaments ever staged when it rolls out an ambitious hydrogen and solar power programme.
Significant sections of the tournament site at the host venue will be powered by green hydrogen, producing zero emissions, while the Fan Village’s main stage and merchandise shop will be solar powered.
The main hydrogen compound is located between the 1st and 15th holes and comprises two 250kWh hydrogen power units (HPUs) with an integrated Battery Energy Storage System. Funded with support from the Scottish Government, these HPUs will power the significant hospitality and merchandise store infrastructure on the 15th hole, including the big screens and the Genesis Public Lounge.
In addition, the entire broadcast compound will be powered by a HPU located by the 13th hole. This is the seventh time the broadcast compound at a DP World Tour event has been powered entirely by green hydrogen, with the initial roll-out at the 2023 BMW PGA Championship a world first for sport.
The hydrogen power cells are being supplied by UK-based clean energy company GeoPura, and the HPUs will be installed and managed by a subsidiary of Aggreko called Film and TV Services (FTVS).
It is estimated that the hydrogen power units (HPUs) will save more than 16,200 kg CO₂e compared to diesel generators. There is a predicted reduction of 600 kg CO₂e from energy generation when compared with the 2025 tournament. The HPUs use green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, to generate low-carbon electricity for the surrounding area. At the point of power generation, they produce no carbon dioxide or particulate emissions, with water as the only by-product.
In addition to hydrogen, the tournament will also embrace solar power, to supply electricity to the main stage and the Fan Village merchandise shop.
While solar has been an increasingly common addition to tournament energy supplies across the DP World Tour, this is the first time it is being used at the Genesis Scottish Open.
Alongside this new initiative, the event will further expand its use of mains electricity. In 2025, 872.377 kWh of mains electricity was used. This will increase in 2026 as grid connections are extended to include the broadcast compound and the 13th green bar and catering area, reducing the event’s reliance on temporary generators even further.
These sustainability initiatives form part of the DP World Tour’s Golf for Good programme, and more specifically its Green Drive initiative that is focusing on reducing operational and event greenhouse gas emissions, and moving the Tour towards net zero carbon.
The Golf for Good programme at the Genesis Scottish Open is also focussing on promoting the importance of nature – something the DP World Tour is uniquely placed to do in sport given the diverse landscapes visited around the world each season.
Fans will be able to experience wildlife in the Fan Village in a collaboration with Zoolab, with educational workshops and ethical encounters with various animals such as snakes, frogs and tortoises. There will also be a Little Links Nature Trail running across the course, where fans will be able to learn and enjoy the diverse range of flora and fauna at Renaissance Club.
A special Sustainability Symposium will once again take place on the Wednesday, delivered with VisitScotland, Scottish Golf, East Lothian Council and GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation – bringing together golf clubs, industry and government partners.
Speaking about these wide ranging initiatives Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the European Tour group, said: “We have experimented with hydrogen power at our events for four years now but this is our most ambitious roll-out yet, and the first time hydrogen has been used at this scale to power a major sporting event on a greenfield site. Getting to net zero is about embracing new technologies and delivering incremental gains year-after-year. I’m excited to see this go live next week and ultimately share what we learn with other venues.
“We’re also focusing our efforts on promoting golf’s intrinsic links to the natural world, with golf tournaments an ideal gateway for spectators to get out and experience nature. As a course that is GEO Certified for its work in sustainability, Renaissance Club is a fantastic location to showcase this, and we hope fans will leave the tournament with a greater appreciation for how the local habitat blends seamlessly into the spectacular tournament venue.”
Rob Dickson, VisitScotland Director of Industry and Events, said: “The Genesis Scottish Open sets a strong example of how major events can lead the way on climate-conscious innovation, using renewable energy to reduce impact while showcasing innovation on a global stage. Sustainability is increasingly important for the tourism and events sector, helping to protect the landscapes and natural assets that power Scotland’s visitor economy.”