Information brochure | status 08/2014 Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Table of Contents

Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn...... 4-8

Backwater Area and Weir System...... 6

Mining Tunnels...... 7

Powerhouse...... 8

Modern Construction-Site Management...... 9-12

On-Site Production...... 9

Quiet and Dust-Free Transport to the Storage Area...... 10

Protecting People and the Environment...... 11

Improving the Ecological Condition of the Inn...... 12

Operational Management and Safety...... 13

Timetable...... 14

Contact and Service Point...... 15

Legal notice Publisher: Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn GmbH, Innstraße 52, 6500 , Tel.:+43 (0)50607-21744, www.gemeinschaftskraftwerk-inn.com, Email: [email protected], Innsbruck Court (FN 277806 p), VAT ID: ATU 62525529 Text & design: P8 GmbH, Sparkassenplatz 2, 6020 Innsbruck Picture credits: GKI, Gappmaier, Pfennig, Shutterstock

2 Dear Readers!

The joint-venture power generating plant Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn (GKI) in the Upper Inn region at the Swiss-Austrian border represents the largest new construction of a hydroelectric power plant in the Alpine region in this millennium. The generating plant has undergone a comprehensive examination in both and . Following the completion of its four-year construction phase (2014 – 2018), it will generate 400 gigawatt hours annually by using hydropower, a renewable and domestic source of energy. This joint-venture power generating plant situated between the Swiss mu- nicipality Valsot and the Austrian municipality Prutz, will be a milestone on the way to ‘s power autonomy, it will significantly contribute towards achieving the goals of the European Energy Strategy and supports the conversion of the energy industry to CO2 neutral and renewable energy generation.

The first plans for a power generating plant on the Upper Inn already existed in the 1920s. Since the project has been taken up again by the shareholders of GKI – TIWAG, VERBUND and Engadiner Kraftwerke – a lot has happened. Our idea has developed into a flagship project which has been further optimised several times and meets the highest environ- mental standards and criteria. This development has been made possible by a comprehensive dialogue which took place with the people of Oberes Gericht and and the many experts and planners involved. We would like to warmly thank everyone involved and affirm a continued cooperation throughout the implementation.

The Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn is a project with many advantages. We will present these on the following pages. The construction of GKI is going to make a significant contribution to the further use of the domestic renewable resource of hydropower, and thus, to energy autonomy, which has been aspired to for such a long time, as well as to the reduction of

CO2 emissions. However, the GKI will not only provide significant advantages in terms of the environment and the energy industry. It is the largest single investment made in the Oberland region of Tyrol in recent decades. Its construction and operation means an important economic impulse for the region – in the form of employment, value added and industrial development.

We are proud to be able to construct this milestone in environmentally-friendly power generation for Tyrol and the Engadin.

The GKI-Management DI Johann Herdina, DI Peter Loidl, DI Michael Roth 3 Pradella-Martina Power Plant Installed capacity: 72 MW Annual generation: 276 GWh Gross head: 114 m

Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn: Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable and Cross-Border

Hydropower has been used for pro- Gericht. The Gemeinschaftskraftwerk ducing clean energy on the Upper Inn Inn consists of three main elements: since the 1950s. The Pradella-Martina a backwater area and weir system, a ”THE GKI MASSIVELY REDUCES and Prutz-Imst Power Plants consti- pressure tunnel and a powerhouse. THE CURRENT NECESSITY tute a “power plant chain” of which In the border region between Mar- FOR TYROL TO IMPORT the Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn will tina and , a weir system with Electricity for the become a link after its completion in a 15 m high weir for water collection domestic supply” 2018. will be constructed. From the dammed The joint-venture power genera­ water, up to 75 m3/s will be conveyed ting plant Gemeinschaftskraftwerk along the 23.2 km long pressure tun- Inn (GKI) in the Upper Inn region at nel. This tunnel ends in the pressure the Swiss-Austrian border represents shaft which leads to the turbines in a unique cross-border hydroelectric the powerhouse in Prutz/Ried. The two power plant project. The largest part machine units located there, each con- of the power plant is built under- sisting of a Francis turbine and a gener- ground and it will stretch from the ator, produce environmentally friendly Martina district of the Swiss municip- electricity. The water that is used in the ality of Valsot across seven municipal- process then flows through the under- ities in the Tyrolean region of Oberes ground channel back into the Inn.

Fact box

Environmental Information: In comparison to a modern coal-fired power plant, GKI annually saves

• 322,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)

• 168 tons of sulphur dioxide (SO2)

GKI - generating jobs and investment • 180 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) • 8 tons of dust GKI GmbH is investing around €461 greatly during the construction phase. million in the construction of the Up to 400 professionals will be em- Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn. The result ployed, they will live, shop as well as use of this significant investment is a total the local amenities and restaurants in the value added for the wider economy region. The local municipalities will also which is far in excess of the actual in- profit from the additional tax income. vestment volume. The regions benefit

4 Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn

• Installed capacity: 89 MW • Annual generation: around 414 GWh (subject to optimisation) • Flow-rate of the generating plant: maximum 75 m3/s • Surface of the water catchment area: 1,960 km2 • Investment volume: around €461 million • Gross head: 160.7 m

Imst Power Plant Installed capacity: 89.5 MW One Project – Annual generation: 550 GWh Gross head: 143.5 m Many Advantages

Clean energy from hydropower Natural habitat thanks to The generation of electricity in GKI takes surge protection place without the emission of pollu­tants. The current surge situation in the Inn river The GKI not only uses the available po- with discharge deviations of up to 1:30 tential of hydropower as a renew­able between the minimum and maximum energy source in order to generate flow-rate prevents the positive devel-

CO2-free electricity, but at the same time opment of the body of water between also reduces the dependence on im- Martina and Prutz. With the help of the ports of electricity generated from fossil new backwater area and the weir struc- and nuclear fuels. ture, the GKI absorbs this surge almost Dynamic Residual Water Model completely and ensures a steady water “The reduction of the In the summer months the dynamic re- release. surge means a significant sidual water model guarantees a natural Minimum water discharge sup- ecological improvement drainage behaviour of the Inn. This special ports the development of aquatic for the Inn.” model that has been developed by experts creatures living in the river regulates the release of residual water at The construction of the GKI will signi- the weir. The water-level of the Inn near ficantly improve the situation of the fish St. Moritz in Switzerland is not influenced and the microorganisms living in the and is used as the reference for the release Inn. The GKI guarantees a minimum volume. The more water flows past the discharge of at least 5.5 m3/s in the eco- measurement point there, the more is re- logically sensitive winter months. This leased at the weir in Ovella. Even on dry allows the fish and the microorganisms summer days, the GKI guarantees a min- to develop without being disturbed in imum discharge volume of 10 m3/s. their winter dormancy phase. Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn 5 Backwater Area and Weir System

A core part of the Gemeinschaftskraft- winter and in the weeks before and after werk Inn is the weir system. It dams the winter, a constant, ecologically adapted Inn along a length of roughly 2.6 km in minimum acceptable flow is released. Fact box the Austrian-Swiss border region. The In the summer season, the dynamic entrance to the pressure tunnel is loc- residual water model requires the ad- Backwater Area Data: ated at the orographic right side of the aptation of the residual flow to the nat- • Length: around 2.6 km weir system. A maximum of 75 m3/s of ural tributaries of the Inn. This water is • Water depth: maximum 15 m water for electricity production is con- also used in an economically sensible • Effective usable volumes: 500,000 m3 veyed from the backwater area along manner: an additional separate turbine • Flow-rate: maximum 75 m3/s the headrace channel and the inclined at the weir generates 7.84 GWh of shaft to the powerhouse. During the electricity.

From 2018, the Inn will be dammed at Ovella and up to 75 m3 of water per second will be direc- ted into the tunnels. A fish pass allows fish to cross the weir system.

This is how we build the weir system

Even before construction begins, the entire on the construction phase in order to create area of the weir system is secured with seven “dry areas” for the construction work. The rock fall protection nets, some of which have weir is the first structure created. The Inn is a length of up to a few hundred metres. The then directed through the completed weir in subsequent construction of the weir system order to drain the orographic right side. The is then carried out in the wet-construction headrace entrance, the fish pass and the op- method. In concrete terms, this entails the Inn eration building are constructed there and, being diverted for limited sections depending thus, the weir system complex is completed.

6 Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn The view into the tunnel: The water flows through the mountain to the powerhouse along a distance of 23.2 km. Concrete segments produced on-site from reinforced concrete secure the head-race waterway.

Through the Underground Tunnel to the Turbine

The water flows from the weir sys- is only limited pressure in the pressure Fact box tem in Ovella to the powerhouse in tunnel, comparable to the pressure Prutz/Ried through a 23.2 km long in a normal household water-supply Key Data on the Tunnel: pressure tunnel. This tunnel goes pipe. This pressure increases to about • Headrace channel length: 23.2 km through the mountain on the oro- 16 bar in the steeply falling and rein- • Diameter of the the tunnel: graphic right side of the valley at a forced inclined shaft. The water then approx. 5.8 m depth of approx. 130 m to 1.200 m, hits the turbines in the powerhouse • Number of segments incorporated: depending on the topography. There and drives them. approx. 50,000 • Gross head: 160.7 m • Diameter of the inclined shaft: 3.8 m

Maria Stein: Starting point of tunnelling operations

The starting point of the tunnel is the the powerhouse in Prutz/Ried, drilling access tunnel in Maria Stein. The actual is also carried out from the other side. 12.7 km head-race tunnel is then milled The inside of the tunnels are lined and in the direction of the weir system secured with reinforced-concrete seg- and around 8.9 km in the direction of ments. In total, approximately 1 mil- the powerhouse by tunnel boring ma- lion m3 of rock are excavated from the chines. At the weir system in Ovella and mountain.

Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn 7 Powerhouse: The Energetic Core

The Prutz/Ried powerhouse is the core transformer station of the part of the Gemeinschaftskraftwerk power plant and from there it is fed Inn. With two Francis turbines it gen- into the public grid. The water flows erates electricity from hydropower. This along an underground channel back electricity is then conveyed via an un- into the Inn. derground cable to the neighbouring

Prutz/Ried Powerhouse 888.37 State Road Indoor Crane 883.87 883.87

Transformer

Generator 874.70 873.85

Current Terrain 869.07 867.00 Horizontal Section Distribution 865.50 Pipe Tailrace Channel 863.80 2 Turbines Turbine Axis

856.90

Concrete Slab High-Pressure Grout Curtain High-Pressure Grout Curtain

846.08 m.a.s.l. 0 1 2 3 4 5 10m Anchor

Underground electricity generation

The powerhouse is barely visible from the impact on landscape and also operates outside. A mere 4.5 m of the building­­ is very quietly. above the level of the surrounding ter- An interesting detail of the powerhouse rain. The vast majority of the technical is the integrated crane with a span width equipment – such as, for example, the of 21 m in the machine hall. With the turbines and generators – are installed help of the crane, the turbines and gen- underground at a depth of around 26 m. erators are lifted into their anchorings This type of construction offers the and taken out for servicing work. advantage that it only has a minimum

8 Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn The area around the powerhouse is designed to merge with the sur- rounding nature. Little hills and hollows and a pond with a surface area of 240 m2 will be created.

On-Site Production

At the construction site in Maria Stein, tunnel. This makes the transport of these the concrete segments are produced reinforced concrete segments on public in a production facility set-up for this roads redundant. The reinforced con- purpose. The facility will be located dir- crete segments produced on-site will be ectly next to the entrance of the access used to line the pressure tunnel.

“The production of the reinforced concrete segments will take place directly on-site and will not cause noise pollution be- cause a hall to house the facility will be constructed.”

Reusing excavated material

During the excavation work for the weir material which is suitable for the manu- system and the powerhouse, but in par- facture of concrete will be used directly ticular when digging the tunnel, a total on-site in the production facility in Maria of roughly 1 million m3 of material will be Stein for the production of the concrete excavated from the mountain. To avoid segments. Material that is not suitable will transporting this material with lorries, be transported on conveyor belts to the a sophisticated recycling and storage near-by storage area. concept will be applied. All excavated

Modern Construction-Site Management 9 Quiet and Dust-Free Transport to the Storage Area

The vast majority of the material ex- conveyor-belt system is constructed cavated from the tunnels will be stored in such a way that it runs as quietly near Maria Stein and Schönegg. This as possible during construction op- material will be predominantly trans- erations. A further advantage is the ported on conveyor belts from the efficient dust reduction resulting from access tunnel to the near-by storage the fact that the excavated material area in order to minimise transport will be transported directly from the with heavy machinery. The modern tunnels to the storage area.

Before and after: After the construction has been completed, the storage area will be integrated into the surrounding landscape and used for agriculture.

Renaturation of the storage area

An important aspect when storing back in place following completion of the excavated material is the natural the construction work. Subsequently, integration of the storage area into the the area that had been covered by the surrounding landscape and the possibil- storage area will be replanted in order to ity to return the area to agricultural use be integrated as well as possible into the after the completion of the construction landscape. Afterwards, the agricultural work. For this reason,the fertile top soil use of the area will be possible to the is removed and stored so it can be put same extent as before.

10 Modern construction-site management Undisturbed learning: Before the construction of the GKI began, a modern ventilation system was installed in the Prutz-Ried New Secondary School. This allows fresh air supply and optimal air-conditioning of the classrooms without the windows needing to be opened.

Protecting People and the Environment

Right from the planning phase, we have construction site, a tyre-washing sys- attached great importance to being as tem will also be put in place in order to considerate as possible with respect to all wash the tyres of the construction ma- areas and aspects of the construction. In chinery and vehicles as they leave. Thanks the area of the powerhouse construction to these and further measures the strict site – the only area where work is carried requirements stipulated by the environ- out in a densely populated area – the mental impact assessment are fulfilled. vegetation around the school complex A large number of experts and the au- will remain untouched and, in addition thority constantly check the compliance to this natural barrier, a noise protection with all regulations and limit values and, wall between the construction site and thus, ensure that the project is imple- the school will be built. At the exit of the mented as considerately as possible.

Ensuring free fish migration

In order to ensure that fish can pass the experts. The fish can pass the weir system weir system when swimming up and upstream by means of 81 pools that are down the river, a fish pass has been arranged as steps. Downstream, the fish integrated on the orographic right-hand can pass the weir system by means of side of the weir system in cooperation with a downstream migration facility.

Modern construction-site management 11 Improving the Ecological Condition of the Inn

With the implementation of the GKI measures which will improve the Inn and the resulting reduction of the as a natural habitat. Example of this surge, the ecological condition of the are the creation of natural habitats Inn and its banks will be improved. in Maria Stein or the widening of the “With the construction Further ecological optimisations of Inn‘s river bed at various points, where of the Gemeinschaftskraft- the Inn are achieved thanks to the ad- gravel banks and islands will be set up werk Inn, the ecology ditional compensation measures and that will act as stream breakers and of the Inn river approaches the ecological restorations. riverside woodland will be planted. The an almost completely All areas used during the construction implementation of the compensation natural condition.” will generally be greened with plants, measures as well as the ecological grass and woodland after the project restoration will be monitored by the has been completed. Beyond that, independent ecological construction we will also implement various supervisory authority.

Fact box

Overview Compensation Measures: • Backwater area design in Martina • Biotope in Maria Stein • Planting of plants and grass near the powerhouse • Reforesting the Inn canyon • Widening of the river banks and construction of gravel banks along the Inn • Ensuring that fish can pass the tributary inlets into the Inn

A biotope for Maria Stein

In Maria Stein, a large natural habitat will temporary bodies of water. Fish and small be created once the construction work animals will find a suitable habitat there. has been completed. The open gravel The area surrounding the natural habitat areas, reeded zones and marsh areas will be completely reforested and diverse will provide a variety of different types riverside floodplains created as a result. of natural habitats with permanent and

12 Modern construction-site management Complete 24-hour monitoring: Highly-qualified technicians monitor and control the fully-automated GKI.

24-Hour Monitoring

The operation of the GKI is fully auto- The GKI is equipped with the most mated and monitored and controlled high-tech security systems which corre- remotely around the clock from the spond to state-of-the-art standards. In constantly manned control centre. All the project planning phase, all possible measured values and operating messa- events which could occur were ana- “ALL THE IMPORTANT AREAS ges are transmitted to the technicians lysed and simulated. The GKI structure OF THE GEMEINSCHAFTS- manning the control centres and are at was then designed to be capable of KRAFTWERK INN CAN BE the same time recorded by the central withstanding all potential events and MONITORED IN REAL-TIME computer. In addition to that, all the dealing sufficiently with their conse- THANKS TO EXTENSIVE relevant areas of the power plant can quences. Seals and the safety equip- MONITORING SYSTEMS.” be monitored in real-time thanks to the ment in particular – such as a pipe-burst most modern monitoring systems. hatch – have been installed in order to prevent water flowing out.

Operational Management and Safety 13 Timetable

With the building decision made by and building site facilities for the correct functioning and operation of the shareholders of the Gemeinsch- Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn prepared. all machines and mechanical elements aftskraftwerk Inn GmbH, full con- In accordance with the timetable, all of the power plant have been checked struction began on the three con- elements of the power plant should and confirmed. From this point-in- struction sites in Ovella, Maria Stein be completed by the middle of 2018 time, the Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn and Prutz in the summer of 2014. and ready for test operation. Follow- will feed-in clean electricity produced A few months before, preparatory ing the test operation, which will from domestic hydropower via the work measures had already started: take a number of months, the regu- Kaunertal power plant‘s transformer rocks were secured, vegetation cleared lar operation will commence once the station into the public grid.

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Ovella Construction of the weir Construction of the reserved flow power plant and the pressure tunnel entrance Technology and installations

Maria Stein

Construction of the access tunnel Excavation of the tunnel towards Ovella Excavation of the tunnel towards Prutz Sealing and finishing of the tunnel

Prutz

Construction of the powerhouse Excavation of the access tunnel at the surge tank Excavation of the inclined shaft Construction of the upper chamber Technology and installations Excavation of the underwater channel Reinforcement of the inclined shaft

14 Timetable The direct connection to GKI: Questions, requests and complaints, if these should arise, can be directed to the contact and service point of GKI.

Questions? Requests? Complaints?

Providing local residents as well as 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Following an the interested people with constant immediate reply, improvement mea­ and transparent information is of sures will be instigated if necessary. importance to us. The possibility to The contact point can be contacted communicate directly with those via its own information line or under responsible for the power plant is the following e-mail address. ensured by the contact and service point set up for this very purpose. You can direct your questions, re- quests or even complaints to the contact point during its normal office hours on weekdays from

[email protected]

[AUT] +43 664 8264770 [CH] +41 81 851 4313 i

Contact and service point 15 Pfroslkopf 3,148 m Austria Switzerland Piz Mundin Zirmesspitze 3,146 m 2,944 m Nauderer Hennesiglspitze Schmalzkopf 3,042 m 2,724 m Piz Lat 2,808 m Schuls, Davos

Nauders, Reschenpass

Ovella Weir and Backwater CH Max. Operating Level 1,029.50 m Rad Min. Operating Level 1,025.50 m urs ch lba ch Maria Stein Tö Boden sene Access Tunnel r Bac Br h 970 m eit bach ha Arge sla ch Maria Stein ba 1,429 m Freitsberg ch Schönegg Gfrans Tösens C 930 m hri Breithaslach stin er B ach 1,483 m h Gsch lbac wen l Steinbrücken ute dtb Be ach Fisser Höfe Pressure Tunnel St. Christina a Inner ∅ = ca. 5.8 m 940 m 1,352 m t

n Frauns n i r e b Ried Leiten O 876 m Surge Tank h 1,059.80 m Bac Gstals ner ad eb Ro en n rg ai U Badeteich M Apparatus Chamber n e 967.00 m h c s e Inn Access Tunnel R Prutz/Ried Powerhouse Inclined Shaft, Armoured Turbine Axis 863.80 m.a.s.l. Inner ∅ = 3.8 m Horizontal Section Tailrace Channel Length = 415.7 m Inner ∅ = 3.8 m Length = 300 m Length = 40.3 m Return Building Distribution Pipe

Prutz-Ried Secondary School

Kaunertal Power Plant B180 Substation

Prutz Landeck, Innsbruck

www.gemeinschaftskraftwerk-inn.com

A project of: