Pilot project for the use of small wind power on ski lift masts

AI Quick Summary

We want to realise a first pilot project in which small wind power is installed on the lift masts of the ski resort Heuberge AG.We will form the group «Wind Energy Heuberge»; hold a strategy workshop with Stakeholders (NewGreenTech, the local distribution grid operator, the producers of the lift masts). The measurement of the wind conditions on the two ski slopes concerned and the analysis of the data for the calculation of the statics of the lift masts will be done. ■ What problem would you like to solve?The problem of a threatening winter power shortage and the dilemma of preserving the natural andeconomic basis of life is currently very acute in Switzerland. The Federal Council has passed anordinance that is to lead to an expansion of PV plants in high alpine areas. This has been criticised forreasons of landscape protection. We consider ski resorts as the sector with the highest potential forrenewable energy production and therefore propose the expansion of renewable energy productionon the existing infrastructures of ski resorts. Therefore, we want to realise a first pilot project in whichsmall wind power generation by Newgreentec is installed on the lift masts of the ski resort HeubergeAG for the generation of renewable electricity.■ Who are the customers and how will they profit from a solution?The ski resort Heuberge AG benefits from renewable energy production and the start-up newgreenteccan try out its small wind turbines on a ski lift mast for the first time. If the pilot project is successfulsociety and thus ski resorts benefit when more electricity is available in winter and the threat ofshutdowns can be avoided. If the electricity is generated on-site, less electricity is needed from thegrid, and CO2 can also be substituted.■ How does your project idea affect energy savings or CO2 emissions?This project is about installing and commissioning electricity generation in the Heuberge ski area usingsmall wind turbines on lift masts and an energy tower (combination of PV and wind) on the mainbuilding. There are two tow lifts on the Heuberge ski resort, which are suitable for installing small windturbines since a 15kv cable runs parallel to one lift and the other lift has parallel empty tubing. Thelong-term vision of renewable energy production in ski resorts is:If the ski resorts can generate more electricity than the lifts and snowmaking systems consume, thesurplus can be converted into hydrogen and used to fuel the large snowcats. Corresponding snowgroomersare close to being ready for the market. Large snow groomers consume up to 8,000 litres ofdiesel per day. This is the biggest CO2 factor in a ski resort, after the journey to the resort. Wind is theideal complement to photovoltaics on the mountain. Small wind turbines, as we want to use themhere, are not problematic from a landscape point of view and do not need a permit.It should be mentioned in passing that a project is also planned with Heuberge AG to replace the dieselshuttle buses with e-mobility. The electricity from the wind turbines can also be used there.Current status and previous activities■ What has been tried before?Smart Community has already done a lot to promote the generation of renewable energy in ski areas.A video presentation was created for a better understanding of the topic. In an online workshop, skiarea operators and providers were informed by various experts and a lively exchange about obstaclesand opportunities promoted mutual understanding of the current situation. Using an online surveythat was sent to all ski areas. Smart Community surveyed the status quo and the needs of ski areas.■ What was not successful?Although Smart Community has identified several ski resorts interested in generating renewableenergy, construction of generation facilities has not yet begun. Therefore, we are starting with a smallski area that has good prerequisites due to the already existing cabling of the lift line.■ What have you learned?In the research on this subject, we have learned that financing is a critical issue. Therefore, we areapplying at the IB Energy Lab for some seed money. So, we would like to show with a small project withlittle financing that renewable electricity generation is not only possible with PV, but also with windenergy. This can serve as learning for other ski lifts.Resources needed■ What are your planned work packages?We intend to work along the following steps/milestonesA. As a first step in the project, the group «Wind Energy Heuberge» is formed, consisting of Luca Giger,Mayor Fideris, Georg Fromm, regional business development, Henrik Vetsch, Heuberge AG andSmart Community as moderator, orchestrator and link to technology providers.B. Step B 1: A strategy workshop with representatives of NewGreenTech, the local distribution gridoperator and the producers of the lift masts lift manufacturer brings the stakeholders together todiscuss the preliminary work, the requirements and the further procedure for the construction ofthe small wind turbines and the Energy Tower. Step B2: If necessary, further joint workshop datesare held. In addition, accompanying one-on-one meetings are held by Smart Community with theindividual actors to harmonize the cooperation of all partners involved. The strategy workshop hasa pioneering character and is therefore also to be understood as a co-creation process for the futurecooperation of similar stakeholders and future projects. The wind conditions are measured byNewGreenTec to be able to install the most efficient systems.C. The measurement of the wind conditions on the two ski slopes concerned and the analysis of thedata for the calculation of the statics of the lift masts and the best design of the small wind turbinescarried out by newgreentec.D. The verification of the statics of the masts and whether they allow the installation of small windturbines is carried out by the manufacturer of the lifting masts.E. The electrotechnical planning for the small wind turbines the construction of the Energy Tower andthe implementation have to be carried out.F. The result of the pilot project submitted here is Heuberge's generation of wind energy. In addition,the cooperation between NewGreenTech and the lift manufacturer can be beneficial for furthersimilar projects in other ski resorts.The submitted proposal here focuses on steps A to C. Maybe it is also possible to carry out step D if theproducer of the masts is very cooperative and willing to support the project. Steps E and F cannotcarried out with the funding provided. Funding for this will be raised after the completion of steps Aand B.■ How can the Energy Lab help you?The funding from the IB Energy Lab allows Smart Community to bring together stakeholders andpartners mentioned here. When we need to discuss the sharing of the initial costs, it might be verydifficult to bring this project on its way. Therefore the seed money from Energy Lab is highly welcome.In addition, we can benefit from the insights and advice from the Energy Lab research community.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Pilot project for the use of small wind power on ski lift masts
• Date: 8/16/2023 9:40:14 PM
• Administrators:
  • Barbara Juen

Project Idea Description

■ What problem would you like to solve?

The problem of a threatening winter power shortage and the dilemma of preserving the natural and

economic basis of life is currently very acute in Switzerland. The Federal Council has passed an

ordinance that is to lead to an expansion of PV plants in high alpine areas. This has been criticised for

reasons of landscape protection. We consider ski resorts as the sector with the highest potential for

renewable energy production and therefore propose the expansion of renewable energy production

on the existing infrastructures of ski resorts. Therefore, we want to realise a first pilot project in which

small wind power generation by Newgreentec is installed on the lift masts of the ski resort Heuberge

AG for the generation of renewable electricity.

■ Who are the customers and how will they profit from a solution?

The ski resort Heuberge AG benefits from renewable energy production and the start-up newgreentec

can try out its small wind turbines on a ski lift mast for the first time. If the pilot project is successful

society and thus ski resorts benefit when more electricity is available in winter and the threat of

shutdowns can be avoided. If the electricity is generated on-site, less electricity is needed from the

grid, and CO2 can also be substituted.

■ How does your project idea affect energy savings or CO2 emissions?

This project is about installing and commissioning electricity generation in the Heuberge ski area using

small wind turbines on lift masts and an energy tower (combination of PV and wind) on the main

building. There are two tow lifts on the Heuberge ski resort, which are suitable for installing small wind

turbines since a 15kv cable runs parallel to one lift and the other lift has parallel empty tubing. The

long-term vision of renewable energy production in ski resorts is:

If the ski resorts can generate more electricity than the lifts and snowmaking systems consume, the

surplus can be converted into hydrogen and used to fuel the large snowcats. Corresponding snowgroomers

are close to being ready for the market. Large snow groomers consume up to 8,000 litres of

diesel per day. This is the biggest CO2 factor in a ski resort, after the journey to the resort. Wind is the

ideal complement to photovoltaics on the mountain. Small wind turbines, as we want to use them

here, are not problematic from a landscape point of view and do not need a permit.

It should be mentioned in passing that a project is also planned with Heuberge AG to replace the diesel

shuttle buses with e-mobility. The electricity from the wind turbines can also be used there.

Current status and previous activities

■ What has been tried before?

Smart Community has already done a lot to promote the generation of renewable energy in ski areas.

A video presentation was created for a better understanding of the topic. In an online workshop, ski

area operators and providers were informed by various experts and a lively exchange about obstacles

and opportunities promoted mutual understanding of the current situation. Using an online survey

that was sent to all ski areas. Smart Community surveyed the status quo and the needs of ski areas.

■ What was not successful?

Although Smart Community has identified several ski resorts interested in generating renewable

energy, construction of generation facilities has not yet begun. Therefore, we are starting with a small

ski area that has good prerequisites due to the already existing cabling of the lift line.

■ What have you learned?

In the research on this subject, we have learned that financing is a critical issue. Therefore, we are

applying at the IB Energy Lab for some seed money. So, we would like to show with a small project with

little financing that renewable electricity generation is not only possible with PV, but also with wind

energy. This can serve as learning for other ski lifts.

Resources needed

■ What are your planned work packages?

We intend to work along the following steps/milestones

A. As a first step in the project, the group «Wind Energy Heuberge» is formed, consisting of Luca Giger,

Mayor Fideris, Georg Fromm, regional business development, Henrik Vetsch, Heuberge AG and

Smart Community as moderator, orchestrator and link to technology providers.

B. Step B 1: A strategy workshop with representatives of NewGreenTech, the local distribution grid

operator and the producers of the lift masts lift manufacturer brings the stakeholders together to

discuss the preliminary work, the requirements and the further procedure for the construction of

the small wind turbines and the Energy Tower. Step B2: If necessary, further joint workshop dates

are held. In addition, accompanying one-on-one meetings are held by Smart Community with the

individual actors to harmonize the cooperation of all partners involved. The strategy workshop has

a pioneering character and is therefore also to be understood as a co-creation process for the future

cooperation of similar stakeholders and future projects. The wind conditions are measured by

NewGreenTec to be able to install the most efficient systems.

C. The measurement of the wind conditions on the two ski slopes concerned and the analysis of the

data for the calculation of the statics of the lift masts and the best design of the small wind turbines

carried out by newgreentec.

D. The verification of the statics of the masts and whether they allow the installation of small wind

turbines is carried out by the manufacturer of the lifting masts.

E. The electrotechnical planning for the small wind turbines the construction of the Energy Tower and

the implementation have to be carried out.

F. The result of the pilot project submitted here is Heuberge's generation of wind energy. In addition,

the cooperation between NewGreenTech and the lift manufacturer can be beneficial for further

similar projects in other ski resorts.

The submitted proposal here focuses on steps A to C. Maybe it is also possible to carry out step D if the

producer of the masts is very cooperative and willing to support the project. Steps E and F cannot

carried out with the funding provided. Funding for this will be raised after the completion of steps A

and B.

■ How can the Energy Lab help you?

The funding from the IB Energy Lab allows Smart Community to bring together stakeholders and

partners mentioned here. When we need to discuss the sharing of the initial costs, it might be very

difficult to bring this project on its way. Therefore the seed money from Energy Lab is highly welcome.

In addition, we can benefit from the insights and advice from the Energy Lab research community.

We want to realise a first pilot project in which small wind power is installed on the lift masts of the ski resort Heuberge AG.

We will form the group «Wind Energy Heuberge»; hold a strategy workshop with Stakeholders (NewGreenTech, the local distribution grid operator, the producers of the lift masts). The measurement of the wind conditions on the two ski slopes concerned and the analysis of the data for the calculation of the statics of the lift masts will be done.