Snowmaking and electricity production

Snowmaking systems as electricity producers

Snowmaking systems only operate for a few days a year. For the rest of the year, existing infrastructure can be used to generate hydroelectric power with minimal intervention. The project at Jakobshorn in Davos, Switzerland, is a great example.
 

The Bergbahnen Davos Klosters ski area planned and implemented a power plant project with TechnoAlpin between 2013 and 2016 to use existing snowmaking infrastructure all year long (reservoir, pipelines, control system).
 

Existing hydraulic engineering for the snowmaking system was used to integrate a total of 3 turbines at the Ischalp and Bolgen pumping stations to generate electricity — without any additional interference with nature.

Installations:

• 2 turbines at Ischalp: approx. 17 kW at 15 l/s and approx. 120 kW at 40 l/s 
• 1 turbine at Bolgen: approx. 120 kW at 40 l/s 

Water from the overflows of the existing drinking water sources can now be used efficiently during the warmer seasons (spring/summer/fall). As a result, the snowmaking system now not only consumes electricity but also produces it.

Result

In 2020, the area required approx. 1,570 MWh for snowmaking. In that same year, the power plant generated approximately 984 MWh. 

• The snowmaking system therefore generated 63% of the energy required.
• Amortization of investment costs after less than 4 years.