Photom

ontage Kuehtai storage pow

er station scheme

Expansion of hydropower

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1. Climate change drives transition to renewables

What climate scientists sayAlthough climate researchers expect to see little change in the annual volume of precipitation, they do, however, project that summers will become wetter and winters drier. In addition, there will be an increase in the intensity of precipitation. Cut CO2Global warming is considered a major factor in climate change. For this reason, it is a global objective to limit the increase in global temperatures to below +2°C above pre-industrial levels.

To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to cut CO2 emissions dramatically. Carbon (CO2) greenhouse emissions are largely responsible for global warming. They are produced by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal or gas. Consequently, urgent efforts are required to aggressively reduce the use of these fuels (‘decarbonisation’) for mobility, heating and industrial processes (including power production) and generate energy by renewable means. This will also lead to the increased use of electrical energy for air conditioning, mobility systems and industrial processes (‘electrification’).

Limit global warmingThe goal of limiting the increase in global temperatures to well below +2°C as agreed upon at the UN Climate Change Summit 2015 in Paris must now be translated into national energy policies.

The European Union has set greenhouse gas targets for its member states within the framework of a Climate and Energy Package. These European goals are being implemented in individual member states through national climate strategies. Austria has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emis-sions by 36 per cent (from the 2005 baseline) by 2030 and to increasing the share of final energy consumption* from renew- able sources to 34 per cent.

Implement ‘Tyrol 2050 – Energy Autonomy Strategy’Based on the targets set for Austria, the Provincial Government of the Tyrol has adopted its own ‘Tyrol 2050 -Energy Autonomy Stra-tegy’ which takes the special situation of the Tyrol into account.

Tyrol’s energy strategy aims to reduce total energy consump-tion* in the Tyrol to such an extent by 2050 that 100 per cent of final energy consumption comes from local renewable energy sources.

By using energy economically and efficiently, the Tyrol not only strives to reduce total energy consumption by about 50 per cent (from the 2005 baseline), but also increase power generation from local renewable sources by about 30 per cent. Focus on renewablesOne of the key elements of Tyrol’s energy strategy is to almost completely replace fossil energy with renewable, CO2-free sources (water, solar and wind resources).

The diagram shows the energy mix generated from renewable sources that the Tyrol would like to achieve by 2050 in comparison to the energy mix of 2014. Local hydropower should account for 52-56 percent of the energy mix followed by biomass, solar and heat pump systems (ambient heat).

Energy mix set out in the ‘Tyrol 2050’ strategy taken from the ‘Tyrol 2050’ website * See explanations on page 10

Glacier Vernagtferner in the year 2003

Source: Geodesy and Glaciology, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Munich

Global warming and ensuing climate change are the most pressing challenges we and future generations face. These changes are not only published in scientific papers and reported on by the media. We ourselves can already feel the effects of climate change. In the Tyrol, the most visible consequences are the retreat of glaciers and changes in precipitation (seasonal distribution and intensity).

Glacier Vernagtferner in the year 1912

Source: Geodesy and Glaciology, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Munich

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2. Energy policy implemented by the Province of the Tyrol ‘Tyrol 2050 – Energy Autonomy Strategy’

Tyrol imports electricityElectricity accounts for 20 to 25 per cent of total energy de-mand in the Tyrol. Of the 6,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) used in 2016, around 4,600 GWh of electrical energy were generated by hydropower stations in the Tyrol and were supplied to end users in the province. This figure does not take into account the electrical energy produced by ÖBB and Verbund Hydro Power because this power cannot be used to meet the province’s consumption requirements. In other words, the Tyrol has to import electricity. To achieve energy autonomy as set out in Tyrol’s Energy Stra-tegy 2050, it is therefore essential to expand local hydropower capacity in the province. The energy strategy pursued by the Province of the Tyrol aims to increase energy generated from local hydropower by 2,800 GWh by 2036.

Expand local hydropowerThe pie chart below shows how the energy generated by hydropower plants can be used to meet the province’s supply requirements in 2036 should the Water Management Regu-lation of the Tiroler Oberland Framework be implemented. Future power generation constraints imposed by ecological regulations (Water Framework Directive, National Watercourse Management Plan, Quality Objective Ordinance) have been taken into account. The gap between energy demand in 2036 (which is to be met entirely with local resources) and current local capacity can be filled through the environmentally-friendly development of hydropower schemes in the province.

Electrical energy produced in the Tyrol to meet the province’s energy

requirements in 2036 (in GWh)

The expansion of local hydropower is a key element of the Provincial Government’s energy policy

Reduce energy consumptionDespite the predicted increase in electric vehicles, the demand- supply gap calculation for 2036 is based on only a slight increase in power consumption. If the province is to achieve energy autonomy by 2050, it is therefore not only necessary to expand local hydropower capacity but also implement ambitious plans to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency as a whole.

The Tyrol recorded an increase both in total energy demand and in the consumption of electrical energy in 2016. The cost of energy imports to the Tyrol amounts to around 2 billion euros per year.

85 GWh Tauernbach-Gruben power plant

117 GWh Expansion of the Kirchbichl power plant, Expansion of the Schwarzach power plant, Tumpen-Habichen power plant, Ötztaler Ache

216 GWh Kühtai storage power station scheme

220 GWh Prutz - Imst337 GWh Imst-Haiming power plant

387 GWh Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn – joint venture hydropower plant

626 GWh Kaunertal Expansion Project4.815 GWh Generation from hydropower in the Tyrol (in compliance with the Water Framework Directive, National Watercourse Management Plan; Water Quality Regulation) = 1.988 GWh

from TIWAG expansion projects

No additional imports required if annual consumption increases < 0.3 % from 2022

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Locations of TIWAG development projects

Different hydropower plants to meet all requirements The development scheme comprises different types of power stations to ensure that all energy requirements can be met. Diversion power plants (GKI, Imst-Haiming, Kirchbichl and Tau-ernbach-Gruben) provide base load electricity, whereas storage and pumped storage power stations (Kaunertal and Kuehtai) store excess energy generated by wind turbines and photovol-taic (PV) panels. In addition, storage and pumped storage plants provide balancing services for grid regulation and are therefore key elements of the transition to renewables.

What is more, thanks to storage power plants, environmentally- friendly energy produced during the summer months (when ge-neration is higher than usage) can be stored for use during the high-demand winter months. Environmentally-friendly expansion of hydropowerTIWAG has exercised great care in minimising the environmental impact of the new hydroelectric power stations. The development schemes, for example, use existing facilities (Sellrain-Silz series of power plants, Kaunertal power plant) and infrastructure (power

3. Hydropower’s role in achieving Tyrol’s energy targetsTo achieve energy autonomy as set out in the Province of Tyrol’s energy strategy, TIWAG carried out a process of optimisation and coordination and identified six hydropower development projects.

Upper Inn Joint Venture Hydropower Plant (GKI)

Expansion of the Kirchbichl Power PlantKühtai Storage Power Station Scheme

These are the six projects:

lines, roads), and the majority of structures are underground. Four of the six projects (GKI, Kirchbichl, Kuehtai and Tauernbach- Gruben) have been designed and optimised in such a way that they meet the strict requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The GKI development scheme and Kirchbichl expansion project are already being implemented. A final EIA decision has been made in favour of the Kuehtai storage power plant and is cur-rently being reviewed by the Supreme Courts.

65 per cent increase in electricity generation TIWAG will be able to increase energy generation by about 65 per cent should all six projected hydroelectric power stations be implemented. The company will therefore be in a position to generate an additional 2,000 GWh of environmentally-friendly electrical energy (this includes the operation of the GKI joint venture project which is currently being built). Consequently, large-scale hydropower stations will play a major role in meeting Tyrol’s energy targets and achieving energy autonomy for the province.

Kaunertal Expansion Project Imst-Haiming Power Plant

Tauernbach-Gruben Power Plant

Stand: Juli 2018

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High-quality energy supply (Source: TINETZ) Environmentally-friendly development

Finstertal Kuehtai Reservoir

Well equipped for a blackoutIn the event of a large-scale power failure (blackout), the availabi-lity of sufficient and appropriate power plants (reservoirs, turbine operation independent of external grid, flexible capacity control) will allow the province to quickly restore power supply to the Tyrol – regardless of the energy supply situation in neighbouring regions.

Additional value addedThanks to increased generation from local hydropower, it will no longer be necessary to buy energy from abroad. Consequently, purchasing power will stay in the Tyrol.

Furthermore, the expansion of hydropower will create considerable additional added value during the construction phase (particularly for construction and ancillary industries), provide jobs for people living in the province and trigger investments in businesses.

The host municipalities affected by development schemes receive compensation payments from TIWAG which are based on a unified calculation model. The payments are designed to finance measures to mitigate any adverse effects caused by the construc-tion of power stations. TIWAG has built a reputation as a respon-sible and trusted partner and contributes greatly towards creating added value in the region.

Exemplary watercourse protection To reduce the effect of operations on watercourses, the storage power plants and power stations on the River Inn will be equipped with re-regulation reservoirs. The storage capacities of these reservoirs will serve to mitigate variations in flow on the River Inn (hydropeaking) caused by hydropower operations. This will consi-derably improve living conditions for aquatic fish and plants.

Flood protectionThe retention capacity of storage plants in high mountain regions optimises flood protection measures on watercourses where water is diverted to reservoirs.

4. Expansion of local hydropower and benefits for the Tyrol The expansion of hydropower will not only help the province achieve its energy strategy objectives, but will also guarantee the provision of a sustainable, secure and safe supply of energy in the Tyrol. This will safeguard the Tyrol as an excellent business location and promote the industrial development of the province. Positive economic developments provide a sound basis for prosperity – for people today and for future generations.

The expansion of hydropower is Tyrol’s contribution towards global climate protection to safeguard an environment worth living in for generations to come.

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6. Sources and literatureOn climate change: www.umweltbundesamt.atwww.klimawandelanpassung.at www.ec.europa.eu

On Tyrol’s energy strategy: www.tirol.gv.at

On Tyrol 2050 – energy autonomy for our province: www.tirol2050.at

On EU climate policy: www.ec.europa.eu

On Austrian electricity statistics: www.e-control.at

On EU electricity statistics: www.ec.europa.eu

On the Water Framework Directive: www.bmnt.gv.at

On the Quality Objective Ordinance – Chemical Status of Surface Waters: www.bmnt.gv.at

On the National Watercourse Management Plan: www.bmnt.gv.at

TIWAG-Tiroler Wasserkraft AG: www.tiwag.at

On the Water Management Regulation of the Tiroler Oberland Framework: www.ris.bka.gv.atwww.tirol.gv.at

Final energy consumption: Is the energy that reaches the end user’s door.

Total energy consumption: Is the combined energy consumption from all energy sources (electricity, gas, oil…).

Water Framework Directive (WFD): The Water Framework Directive sets out quality objectives for water bodies. It provides methods by which these objectives can be achieved and good water quality can be maintained. The foremost goal of WFD is to prevent any further deterioration of water bodies and to protect and improve the status of water ecosystems and that of related land ecosystems.

Quality Objective Ordinance – Chemical Status of Surface Waters: The Quality Objective – Chemical Status of Surface Waters determines threshold values for artificial and natural pollutants in water bodies which are used to describe water quality and the chemical components of good ecological status. The ordinance sets out the quality objectives for all natural surface waters.

National Watercourse Management Plan: The National Watercourse Management Plan is a river basin management plan in compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive which is based on an integrated approach to protect, improve and use watercourses in a sustainable manner. Based on comprehensive baseline analyses, the National Watercourse Management Plan determines significant water uses, sets out maintenance and enhancement objectives and describes measures by which these goals can be achieved.

5. Explanations

iUnit conversion:1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) = 1 megawatt hour (MWh)1,000,000 kWh = 1 gigawatt hour (GWh)1,000,000,000 kWh = 1 terawatt hour (TWh)

1,000 MWh = 1 GWh1,000,000 MWh = 1 TWh1,000,000 kWh = 3.6 terajoule (TJ)

■ cook lunch for four persons ■ watch television for ten hours on an LED TV

Date of issue: December 2018

■ use an energy efficient light bulb (11 watt) for 90 hours ■ drive about 6.7 km (4.2 miles) in an electric car

One kWh of electricity is enough to:

TIWAG- Tiroler Wasserkraft AG Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz 2

6020 Innsbruckwww.tiwag.at