Blog – News on our Kaunertal Campaign
Here on the blog, you can find all WET activities relating to our Kaunertal campaign, including updates, announcements, reviews, and information about the project.
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EIA for Kaunertal Power Plant Expansion – Part 1 Has Begun
Public Display of EIA Documents for Project Part 1 – Platzertal Reservoir and Versetz Pumped Storage Today, July 14, 2025, the documents for the first part of the Kaunertal Power Plant expansion project were “publicly displayed.” This means, first, that the public portion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Project Part 1 – Platzertal…
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Commentary on the Current Media Coverage
A commentary on the notable media coverage following our action at Landhausplatz and ahead of the Pfunds referendum: Immediately after the petition was submitted, the Tyrolean newspapers were conspicuously silent, while nationwide media reported as usual. The ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party) sent a Member of Parliament who made all kinds of claims in an attempt…
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34 Organizations and Over 100,000 People Oppose the Expansion of the Kaunertal Power Plant
Over 100,000 people have now signed the petition against the expansion of the Kaunertal power plant. To mark this, more than 20 organizations and groups gathered today at Landhausplatz in Innsbruck to present their arguments against the project. Together, they call on Governor Mattle to stop the expansion of the Kaunertal power plant. Participants included…
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Kaunertal Power Plant Expansion Project – Update January 2025
In this post, we want to update you on the project status for the Kaunertal power plant expansion as of January 2025. Delays and Splitting the Project The environmental impact assessment for the Kaunertal power plant expansion still hasn’t started. You might remember that TIWAG was supposed to submit the revised EIA documents to the…
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Proposed Platzertal Reservoir – Too Large, Too Small, or Both?
Since TIWAG has announced that it plans to first seek approval for the pumped storage part of the overall project for the expansion of the Kaunertal power plant and later submit the rest of the project, we will take a closer look at this part. The partial approval will concern the pumped storage power plant…
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Why The Platzertal Valley is Worth Protecting
For the expansion of the Kaunertal power plant by TIWAG (Tyrolean Hydro Power AG), the pumped storage power plant (PSKW) Versetz and an additional reservoir with a capacity of 42 million m³ are to be built in the Platzertal (1). Various storage variants in different high mountain valleys were investigated for the expansion of the…
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What Exactly Is the “Versetz Pumped Storage Power Plant”?
Recently, newspapers have frequently mentioned the “Versetz Pumped Storage Power Plant,” while the term “Kaunertal Power Plant Expansion” has almost disappeared. Why is that? The newly introduced name is confusing, so we want to clarify what it actually means. The project plans for the “Kaunertal Power Plant Expansion” include a total of three power plants:…
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Expansion of Kaunertal Power Plant Without Water from the Ötztal? Probably Not!
esterday, just before the referendum in Sölden, TIWAG issued a statement that the water diversion plans from the Ötztal would be put on hold for now. Instead, the focus would be on prioritizing the storage in Platzertal. We are somewhere between joy and anger, and here we explain why, and what this message really means…
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Why are the Gurgler, Venter, and Ötztaler Ache Rivers so Important to Protect?
Many people enjoy nature for relaxation, whether by hiking along rivers, boating, or simply sitting by the water, listening to the current. But water is more than just water. It’s a habitat for many species of animals and plants that we may not see at first glance. This blog post will explore which creatures, especially…
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The Hidden Costs of Hydropower: How Hydropower Drives the Climate Crisis
Hydropower is often praised as an environmentally friendly energy source, but the reality is more complex. In this blog post, we will shed light on the negative impacts of hydropower plants on CO2 and CH4 emissions in Alpine countries and how they contribute to the climate crisis. By examining data and scientific findings, we aim…
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Impact of Climate Change on Hydropower in the Alps, Austria & Tyrol
In recent years, the drastic impacts of climate change on various regions worldwide have become increasingly evident. In the Alps, climate warming has led to a significant reduction in glaciers and snow, loss of permafrost, increased risk of natural hazards, shifting ecosystems, as well as precipitation extremes and drought periods. In this blog post, we…
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Expansion doesn’t mean savings
In 2023, the world reached, for the first time, an annual average temperature approximately 1.5°C higher than in pre-industrial times (6). It is evident that there is an urgent need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Tirol continues to heavily rely on hydropower for implementing its energy strategy, with the expansion of the Kaunertal power…
