Surrounded by high mountains and popular skiing regions such as Kaprun, Zell am See and the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen, winter tourism isn’t the only life in the Pinzgau region. In summer, too, many tourists make their way to these impressive mountains for their holidays. To ensure a tourism industry in harmony with nature, sustainable energy production is also a must. The hydropower plant in Gries makes an important contribution to this.
The natural gradient of the Salzach at Gries makes it the ideal location for the run of river plant. The power plant can be constructed here in a way that takes particular care of the river’s ecology. The project partners VERBUND and Salzburg AG worked with the renowned Salzburg Institute for Ecology during the planning phase. The impact on nature was kept as low as possible during the construction phase. Land restoration measures are invigorating biodiversity while a modern fish pass offers obstacle-free migration for the fish.
| Owner | VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH, Salzburg AG |
|---|---|
| Operator | VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH |
| Commissioning | 2019 |
| Type | Run-of-river power plant |
| Country | Austria |
| Region | Salzburg |
| Waters | Salzach |
| Output | 09 MW |
| Annual output | 42,000 MWh |
| Turbine | Kaplan |
| Connectivity | Fish bypass |
The run-of-river power plant has two machine sets, each consisting of a Kaplan bulb turbine and a generator.
The expansion flow rate will be 115 m³/s and the expansion head will be 8.9 metres. With a capacity of 8.85 MW, the power plant will supply the region with 100% green electricity.
Consultations as part of the project
Informational events for residents and citizens are held in the site office on the power plant construction site. In addition to the events, it is also possible go on a guided tour of the construction site.
