Austrian Ski Resort Builds Own Hydro Power Plant
Austrian Ski Resort Builds Own Hydro Power Plant
Published : 28-Jun-2024 07:03
The Austrian resort of Söll has started construction of a small hydropower plant on the local Stampfanger stream, which will cover around 25% of its annual energy requirements from this coming December 2024. The €2.5m project will deliver1,500,000 kW/h of green power annually.
Söll's lift company (Bergbahnen Söll), part of the SkiWelt, one of the largest ski areas in the Alps, has been working to switch to green energy generated on site for more than 35 years now.
A heat recovery system was installed for the first time back in 1988, and was modernised in 2020. In 2006, district heating was connected to a local wood chip heating plant, followed by pellet heating for the ski area's workshops in 2009.
Since 2016, a GPS-controlled snow depth measurement system has been in use at Bergbahnen Söll, as in the entire SkiWelt, to conserve energy and water resources. Whether in the past or today, how sustainable ski operations can be harmonised in the best possible way, both in terms of ecology and economy, is firmly anchored in the corporate philosophy of Bergbahnen Söll and the other SkiWelt mountain railway companies.
"Energy self-sufficient operation - with the construction of our small hydropower plant, we are taking a big step in this direction! For this reason, Bergbahnen Söll has taken the opportunity to invest in a small hydroelectric power plant right next to the valley station," says Mario Gruber, Managing Director of Bergbahnen Söll.
Following the positive decisions by the state and the Kufstein district authority, construction work could begin at the beginning of June 2024. According to planning, commissioning is scheduled for December 2024.
Further e-charging stations are planned directly at the valley station of the Söll cable cars, which can also be supplied with electricity from the small hydroelectric power station.
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