Kitzsteinhorn – Energy generation through its own energy sources

For many years, the sustainability of winter sports resorts has been a central issue that has gained traction in society. Due to the Ukraine conflict and the resulting energy shortage in Europe, winter sports resorts are once again in the media spotlight and must face new challenges. The Kitzsteinhorn resort serves as an example of how economic viability and environmental protection can be reconciled, and also how it will be possible in the future to generate the necessary energy using local resources.

Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG has been committed to sustainable energy production for years. With its own photovoltaic systems on company buildings and a combined pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant that generates energy from meltwater, the company already produces a large portion of the energy needed for snowmaking in winter and electricity in summer. A third turbine is now intended to make this process even more efficient.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJM9MCmEzNA&t=41s

Electricity in summer, snow in winter

The small hydropower plant of Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG with its third turbine. Photo credit: Kitzsteinhorn/Danzer

The first phase of the combined pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, featuring two turbines, was commissioned in 2012. Now, a third turbine will generate electricity in the summer and produce snow in the winter. The unique aspect of this self-sufficient energy production is this: when the switch is flipped in autumn, water is pumped through pipelines from the large high-altitude reservoirs of Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden directly into the snowmaking system on the Kitzsteinhorn mountain. This eliminates the need for additional storage ponds for snowmaking in the high-alpine area of the Kitzsteinhorn. In spring, meltwater from a large catchment area is collected in the Langwied reservoir and continuously conveyed to the power plant via a 2-kilometer-long pipeline, descending 460 meters in altitude. There, the three turbines convert 300 liters of water per second into electricity.

1.2 million kWh of electricity

For Managing Director Norbert Karlsböck, this is another milestone on the "green path" towards sustainability: "By adding a third turbine to the hydroelectric power plant, we can now generate a third of the electricity needed for snowmaking ourselves – a very positive contribution to the energy balance. Even with just two turbines, we were able to generate 900,000 kWh per year – with the third turbine in operation, we will generate 1.2 million kWh of annual energy," said Karlsböck.

When Technical Authorized Officer Ing. Günther Brennsteiner turns the large blue wheel, it takes about ten minutes for the turbines in the power plant to generate electricity. Photo credit: Kitzsteinhorn/Danzer

Snowmaking and the operation of a ski resort require electricity, which has been supplied by the electricity provider using renewable energy for many years. Through on-site electricity generation, numerous energy efficiency measures, the use of electric buses for local ski bus transport, and investments in more efficient snowmaking systems, the Kitzsteinhorn continues its decarbonization efforts. The recent investment of €700,000 in the turbine set for the third power plant represents an important milestone in the Kitzsteinhorn's commitment to sustainability.

We at Snowsports Academy are proud to be a partner of Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG and will follow future developments with great interest.

Further information on sustainability at the Kitzsteinhorn: https://www.kitzsteinhorn.at/de/service/backstage/verantwortung