Energy in the ski area

Lots of wind for the climate, but no plan for wind turbines

Styria is home to the only wind turbine in an Austrian ski resort to date.

(Bild: Bergrettung Steiermark)

To prevent the climate and energy crisis from becoming an existential crisis, the "Silvretta Montafon" is focusing on numerous green projects. However, a wind turbine is unlikely to be seen in the valley for some time yet.

Under the title "Bringing wind and skiing together", the Green Party invited guests to a press conference in the "Silvretta Montafon" ski area on Thursday. Anyone expecting a presentation of plans for a wind farm or at least a small wind turbine was disappointed. As this is a relatively complex topic and there are still many unanswered questions, there are currently not even any plans in the Montafon to take measurements at possible locations.

The situation is different in Brandnertal: "Measurements are already being carried out on the roof of the Gulmabahn mountain station to assess the potential. There is state funding of 50,000 euros for the project," explained Nadine Kasper, member of parliament for the Green Party. For her valley, the Montafon native would like to see a project similar to the one on the 1710 meter high Speikkogel in Styria. The only wind turbine in an Austrian ski resort is located there. "The potential of wind power has been recognized here. The ski resort generates five times more energy than it needs for its own requirements," reports Kasper. The remaining energy is fed into the grid and sold.

Nadine Kasper (Green Party) with Kilian Zinnecker (Silvretta Montafon).

(Bild: sos)

Until the Silvretta Montafon ski resort is ready, there will still be many a gust of wind blowing down the slopes unused. But the green idea is already being put into practice. This is already evident on arrival: Train travelers have the option of purchasing a "Green Ticket", which includes the lift price. If you don't want to lug your skis, poles and boots on the train, you can get a discount on ski rental.

The "Silvretta Montafon" is particularly proud of the "Moon Lounge", the largest e-charging garage in Vorarlberg with 70 charging points. The photovoltaic system on the outer façade of the Valisera mountain station, which went into operation in 2021, has also proven to be a good investment: "With 17 kilowatt hours of installed power, it generates more than comparable systems in the valley," explains Kilian Zinnecker, Head of Sustainability.

PV system on the Valisera cable car.

(Bild: Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH Mathäus Gartner)

In December, a second PV system was installed on the outer façade of the "SiMotel Zamang" staff house in Schruns. A decision on further investments of this kind will be made this spring.

Meanwhile, Zinnecker is still looking for an optimal solution for the biggest energy guzzlers in the ski area, the snow groomers. "With the huge amounts of snow on the mountain, electric is not an alternative," he complains. And the two hydrogen-powered prototypes currently being tested in Flachau don't convince him either. They are too complicated to handle.

The Pistenbully with diesel-electric drive was convincing.

(Bild: Silvretta Montafon Andreas Wieser )

The same applies to the use of synthetically produced fuels: "Although they can save up to 90 percent CO2, they are difficult to procure and far too expensive." Last season, on the other hand, a diesel-electric snow groomer proved a winner. "We kept it straight away."