Kaprun is expanding its energy transition: New pumped storage power plant planned

Kaprun is expanding its energy transition: New pumped storage power plant planned

in Kaprun, a municipality in Pinzgau, the sub -state electricity group has announced plans for the construction of a new pumped storage power plant. The project called "PSW Schaufelberg" is expected to attract investments of around 600 million euros. This was made public in a current sending of the company on Thursday. The construction should be largely underground and the same performance of 480 MW is to be achieved as the existing power plants Limberg II and III.

The new power plant is being created as part of modernization measures to renew the water use rights of the Kaprun power plant group, which is necessary in 2029. The responsible persons of Verbund emphasize the importance of this project for the energy transition in Austria. The establishment of the pumped storage power plant should not only be covered, but also the ecological situation on the Kapruner Ache is to be improved by performing gumper-free loads.

additional investments and technical renovations

The Verbund-CEO Michael Strugl explained the need for almost one billion euros in additional investments in Kaprun in order to cover the increasing electricity requirement by 2040 to double. "The pumped memory plays an indispensable role in ensuring network stability and the supply of clean electricity," said Strugl. In order to bring the technology up to date, some existing systems are also modernized as part of the “Kaprun 2029” project.

A central element of modernization is the construction of a new pressure tunnel, which was originally built in the 1940s and 1950s. The current construction work is already underway to ensure smooth transition and at the same time to meet the ecological requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.

power plant at a height of 700 meters

The planned "PSW Schaufelberg" is positioned at an altitude of 700 meters in the Bergen of Kaprun and aims to increase the efficiency of the existing systems. The new drive water tunnel should be over six kilometers long and have a diameter of 5.8 meters. This enables the water to be transported more efficiently to the power plants Haupt level and Schaufelberg. In addition, a gush compensation basin is built in the Kottingeinsöden district, which should make the return of the drive water more regulated and environmentally friendly.

The work is carried out almost completely underground to minimize the environmental impact. The planning and preparations are in full swing so that all the necessary documents can be submitted by mid -2025 in order to successfully complete the environmental impact assessment. Another step towards ensuring a stable and clean energy supply in the region and beyond.

(source: apa)