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…

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…

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…

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:…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

For those who may be new, we want to summarize the Kaunertal Power Plant Expansion project in the Tyrolean Oberland. Be sure to check out our video, where Marianne Götsch from WWF explains the project (German audio with English subtitles). The basic plan is to “expand” the existing Kaunertal pumped storage power plant, or rather,…

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Kaunertal Power Plant Expansion project has been ongoing for over 10 years. This update provides an overview of the current status. In 2012, TIWAG submitted the permit application and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Tyrolean Regional Government. The documents were first reviewed, and in 2013,…

Hydropower is often referred to as “clean” or “green” energy. However, it’s essential to make a clear distinction: While hydropower is indeed one of the renewable energy sources, in most cases, it is unfortunately neither environmentally friendly nor sustainable – far from being “green.” The scientific consensus now acknowledges that hydroelectric power has significant environmental…