Energy West revives Sanna hydropower project despite local concerns

Energy West has submitted preliminary documents for a revised hydropower project on the Sanna river in Tyrol’s Oberland, ORF reports. The municipalities of Landeck and Pians, which opposed an earlier plan, remain cautious.

The new proposal is being developed by Energy West, a group of 21 regional Tyrolean energy companies. It would use only the Sanna, unlike the earlier project, which also proposed using the Inn. Energy West says the plant could generate electricity year-round for about 22,000 average households, at an estimated investment of 140 million euros.

Energy West chief executive Arthur Ecker said the project would help member companies reduce their reliance on electricity bought on the market, where prices fluctuate. The company has promised full transparency during the approval process and says it plans measures to address concerns about the Lattenbach, a tributary that joins the Sanna. Debris flows there have previously caused dangerous build-ups.

Landeck rejected the earlier project, and Mayor Herbert Mayer said the council’s opposition still stands in principle. The city will examine the new proposal, but has questions about what has changed. Mayer also raised concerns about the effect on the city’s microclimate if water flow in the Inn decreases, as well as the route of the pressure tunnel and the planned powerhouse in Landeck.

Pians also opposed the earlier plan. Mayor Harald Bonelli said questions remain about what would happen if debris from the Lattenbach caused a build-up. Energy West has proposed an early-warning system that would shut down the plant if a blockage threatened, allowing the Sanna to wash away the deposits.

Bonelli also cited construction traffic and noise, water flow, the river’s use by kayakers and fishers, and uncertainty about planned drilling. Both municipalities say they are open to further discussions. The project’s preliminary environmental impact assessment procedure is continuing.