Low water levels cut hydropower output in Salzburg

Low water levels have reduced hydropower production in Salzburg by around 25 to 30 percent, ORF reported. The pumped-storage plants in Kaprun are largely unaffected and are benefiting from the conditions in one respect.

Salzburg AG said it is currently generating around 25 to 30 percent less electricity from hydropower. Energie AG, which operates several hydropower plants in Salzburg, reported similar declines.

A small run-of-river plant in Wagrain in the Pongau region was temporarily taken offline because the required residual water volume is no longer sufficient for economically viable operation.

Compared with the long-term average, about one third of the usual water volume is currently missing, said Hermann Leitner, head of hydropower at Energie AG. The shortage directly affects output, with production currently around one third below plan, he said.

The pumped-storage plants in Kaprun depend on inflows but are less affected in day-to-day operations, Tanja Janisch-Breuer of the Kaprun power plant group said.

The Mooserboden reservoir is almost completely full. Although the water level in the lower Wasserfallboden reservoir is significantly lower, this is not affecting electricity production. Water can still be pumped between the reservoirs as needed and used to generate electricity.

The low level in Wasserfallboden is currently even an advantage for Verbund AG, which is raising the dam by 8.7 metres. Lower water pressure is making the construction work easier and reducing the load on the existing dam during the project.