The SkiWelt ski area in Austria is one of the largest – and greenest – in the world.
Consisting of 83 lifts, 270kms of pistes and over 80 mountain huts, the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser (to give it its full name) includes the popular resorts for British skiers of Ellmau and Soll.
45 years of the SkiWelt
Last year the region celebrated its 45th anniversary since its creation in 1977. In that time over half a billion euros has been invested to create an impressive lift system.
Groundbreaking projects have included the longest funicular railway in Europe, which opened in Ellmau in 1970 and Europe’s first 8-seater chairlift, which opened in Söll in 1988.
The region also features the world’s first solar-powered lift – the Sonnenlift – which opened in Brixen in 2008. The panels generate 12,000 kilowatt hours per year. During the winter the lift only requires 9,000 kWh – so the surplus is fed back into the grid.
SkiWelt has sourced 100% of its electricity from renewable hydro-electrics for over twenty years and has continued to focus on environmental issues.
€14m invested in sustainability
In 2022, EUR14 million was invested in improving the efficiency of the snowmaking and in new solar panels in Ellmau.
The size of the Hartkaiser and Tanzboden reservoirs were increased, meaning the ski area can now be fully covered with snow in just four days. This is now twice as fast and a quarter less expensive than previously.
In addition, five years ago, state-of-the-art GPS systems were added to the area’s 65 snow groomers to gain efficiencies there as well.
More solar power
New 350 kW photovoltaic (PV) systems were added in Ellmau, reducing halving additional electricity demand and energy costs.
Accommodation in SkiWelt
For advice on finding the right accommodation in the SkiWelt, in Ellmau or Soll, please contact the Chaletline team on 01822 617761.
