Mostly invisible as it is built predominantly underground, the hydroelectric power station stretches from Martina GR to the site of seven municipalities in Tyrol. As the joint power plant announced on Friday, 86 percent of GKI is owned by TIWAG-Tiroler Wasserkraft AG and 14 percent by Engadiner Kraftwerke (EKW).
“The joint power plant comes at exactly the right time in the looming power cuts,” said Mario Cavigelli (centre) government councilor in Graubünden. The project demonstrates that renewable electricity generation from hydropower is one of the pillars of energy security in the Alpine countries.
The governor of Tyrol, Anton Mattle, wrote that expanding the use of renewable energies, especially hydropower, is key to the fight against imported inflation.
The construction work in the individual sections was complex and demanding in almost eight years. Meteorological and geological conditions at the construction site caused delays, the nature of the rock slowed the driving of the headrace tunnel by two tunnel boring machines.
According to those responsible, special focus was placed on the natural design of the entire system when designing the power plant. A dynamic residual water model is intended to ensure that the inn has a natural flow behavior. A fish passage also makes it possible for fish and other river creatures to pass through the system.
In addition, the claimed areas will be fully greened, planted or afforested and a biotope created by 2023. The entire area is being restructured – creating a “diverse floodplain landscape” as it has been said. (SDA)