Our incentive for the Kaunertal expansion project
Sustainable energy transition
To achieve the European energy transition, we must use all renewable resources in an environmentally sound manner. The Versetz pumped storage makes another important contribution to this. This will enable us to produce and store renewable energy and create much-needed storage capacity for the national and international expansion of wind and solar energy. In addition, we are making a significant contribution to the supply security of our country with the project.
Supply security
7 days of full capacity or in reserve: Despite its high capacity of around 400 MW, the Versetz pump storage can still be operated with pump or turbine power for a longer time due to the large reservoir in Platzertal valley with 42 million m³ of water. It can both store and generate electricity. The storage duration, which shows how long a reservoir can deliver energy, amounts to 7 days – with full capacity.
Strengthening the region and ensuring the location's future
Investments in the Versetz pumped storage are expected to generate € 938 million in gross value added in Tyrol. This includes both contractors and suppliers – all companies that supply the contractors directly or indirectly – and the impact of consumption through the wages and salaries of the people employed there.
This construction project will employ a total of around 19,800 people in Tyrol. That is an average of around 2,800 jobs per year over the planned construction period, which is comparable to the population of a typical rural community. The power plant construction not only secures existing jobs, but it also creates new ones – both for contractors and suppliers, as well as in other areas that will benefit from rising consumer demand.
Ecologically and environmentally friendly
Our ambition in all our projects is always to implement the plans as resource-efficiently as possible. Environmental and species protection, biodiversity and the careful handling of water are of utmost importance to TIWAG in our power plant projects. An environmental impact assessment is the prerequisite and a guarantee for the nature-friendly implementation of hydropower projects. Neutral experts appointed by the authority check and ensure that an environmentally sound project is in place, approved and implemented. Finally, the approval process itself transparently assesses and evaluates the necessity of the project for the energy transition, possible alternatives and all impacts on space and the environment. This makes a significant contribution to the implementation of the best solution.