A signal for the future: the new “Sonnenlift” in Brixen is powered by a photovoltaic system

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental has come up with a trend-setting innovation with the lift connecting the valley descent from the Choralpe with the new “SkiWelt-Bahn”: the 205 m long “Sonnenlift” in Brixen im Thale is exclusively powered by solar energy.

A small step in the right direction – but with great symbolic effect. “With our photovoltaic system we will be generating some 12,000 kilowatt hours per year – during the winter the lift needs some 9,000 kWh – so, with this solar energy, we are even producing a small surplus which we will feed into the power grid,” explains Rudi Köck, in charge of the installation at the Brixen im Thale Bergbahnen. “Of course it is only a minor part of the consumption of a large lift or indeed of a whole ski area, but our solution points a possible way forward for other ski areas too,” says the lift manager regarding the fine example set by the investment.

The “Sonnenlift” is a small cable lift with a capacity of about 900 people per hour and is powered exclusively with solar energy. The photovoltaic system, costing some €60,000 and with a collector surface of 113 m2, has been installed at SkiWelt Lift’s new valley station.

With 91 lifts, more than 279 km of ski runs comprising all degrees of difficulty and the majority of which are equipped with modern snowmaking facilities (of 210 km of ski runs which can be artificially snowed, 110 km can be ready for skiing in just 3 days), SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental is the largest interconnected ski area in Austria.