Integration of Renewables in Energy Systems of typical Ski- Resorts in Carinthia/Austria - Synergies between Ski-Resorts and Hotels

Abstract

The Austrian decarbonization strategy 1 presents a significant challenge for all sectors,including tourism, with a notable impact on resorts in remote valleys or mountains.Skiing facilities contribute heavily to electrical energy consumption, while hotels,particularly those with spa areas, demand substantial heating energy.Many ski lifts in Carinthia that were built in the 1970s and 1980s have reached theend of their life cycle. The operating licenses are often outdated and are only renewed for a few years. Some ski resorts may not survive the next decade due to global warming and other problems. Significant investment is needed in new lifts and snowmaking systems, which also provides an opportunity to create a basic infrastructure for renewable energy production.As ski resorts are under scrutiny for their climate-damaging energy consumption, new investments often include a commitment to using renewable energy. Hotels are also increasingly turning to renewable energy, but cooperation between the two sectors is limited as decisions focus on individual business interests.This thesis examines the potential synergies between hotels and ski resorts in the implementation of renewable energy systems. The remote ski resort is considered from the perspective of a producer community that includes all businesses on the mountain. A specially developed simulation model adapts an optimal combination of renewable energy sources to the demand profile.The results show that the use of biomass/wood in remote mountain areas, even those surrounded by forests, must be managed carefully. Wind energy offers strategic advantages over photovoltaics, and PV systems should never be oversized. The simulation shows that there are clear advantages in combining the load profiles ofhotels and ski resorts. Systems can be smaller in total and still achieve higher selfsufficiencyrates. In addition, possible synergies with reservoirs are highlighted.The combination of pumped storage and thermal storage is a promising symbiosis that is highly innovative and may be economically viable under certain conditions.