Artificial snow sustains Styria’s winter tourism

Artificial snow is becoming essential to keep many ski runs open in Styria as climate change challenges winter tourism, ORF reports. Producing it requires large amounts of water and investment in storage ponds, rivers, streams and springs.

Styria’s cable-car industry has invested about 76 million euros in total, including around 25 million euros in snowmaking systems, storage ponds and new pumping stations, said Daniel Berchthaller, head of the province’s cable-car industry group.

The largest storage pond in Styria was completed this year at Planai, a ski area. Its water initially comes from flowing bodies of water under approved permits. In coming years, the pond will also be fed by surface water, springs and flowing water, said Peter Weichbold, managing director of Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen. The energy required is equivalent to the consumption of 6,000 households.

Smaller ski areas are also factoring in electricity costs. Rieseralm had relied on natural snow until the 2000s, but has invested heavily in snowmaking in recent years to ensure it can offer skiing to visitors, said its representative Patrick Stocker. The Schöder ski lift association can draw water for snowmaking from a stream, said Andreas Petzl.

A sufficient layer of snow on the runs and at their edges is also required for the piste quality seal, which is intended to support safety. Thirty-two ski areas hold the distinction. Thomas Weihs, chair of the seal, said snowmaking uses far less energy than flying to the Caribbean.

Winter tourism generates one billion euros in revenue in Styria and provides 1,400 jobs directly with cable-car companies, as well as 7,000 other jobs, Weihs said.