Researchers to test heat pump at Alpine mountain hut

Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and Rosenheim Technical University will test heat pump technology at a high Alpine mountain refuge in the Tennengau region, ORF reported. The cross-border Heat4Alps project aims to determine how huts can be heated in a climate-friendly and economically viable way.

The Carl-von-Stahl-Haus mountain refuge will serve as the test location. It stands more than 1,700 metres above sea level between the Hagen Mountains and the Göllstock range, directly on the border with Bavaria. Researchers will examine how the latest generation of heat pumps performs under high Alpine conditions.

The Salzburg team comes from the university’s Adaption of Built Environments research group, which is part of the Department of Design and Green Engineering at the Kuchl campus. Rosenheim Technical University is leading the project, with the Austrian Alpine Association as a partner.

The project team says the high mountains provide an ideal testing environment because the air is thinner and cold periods last longer than in the valleys. This will allow researchers to assess the equipment’s size and efficiency under real conditions.

Most high Alpine mountain refuges currently use fossil fuels or wood to generate electricity and heat. The project will investigate an alternative, while also considering photovoltaic systems as part of broader energy concepts, according to Michael Branz, a project member from Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.

Installation planned for spring 2027

The heat pump is scheduled to be installed at the Carl-von-Stahl-Haus in spring 2027. Researchers will then monitor its operation and evaluate data collected over two years. Their goal is to produce a practical guide for Alpine Association huts, taking account of factors such as location and shading, which can affect how the technology is used.

Reliable energy supplies are particularly important for remote mountain refuges, some of which can only be supplied by air. The researchers said the project aims to help establish carbon-neutral energy supplies in the mountains.

Heat4Alps is supported by the European Union’s Interreg programme, which funds cross-border cooperation between regions and institutions. Around 284,000 euros in funding will go to Salzburg. Salzburg regional councillor Wolfgang Fürweger said the programme created opportunities to develop practical solutions with neighbouring regions.