Prinoth: Sustainability Talks In Flachau

The Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen organized a discussion on the topic of "Sustainability in winter sports" as part of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Women's Night Slalom in Flachau. The podium guests shared the view that skiing and sustainability can and must be compatible in order to ensure the long-term existence of this economic sector, which is so important in Austria. Following the debate, the snow groomer manufacturer PRINOTH presented an absolute world first on the Hermann Maier FIS World Cup course: the LEITWOLF h2MOTION - a snow groomer with a hydrogen combustion engine. As part of the Ski World Cup, it celebrated its debut in slope preparation - without any CO2.

The discussion cleared up prejudices about the ecological compatibility of skiing and brought different positions together. Roswitha Stadlober (President of the Austrian Ski Association) took a position on urgent questions regarding the role of ecology and sustainability in top-class sport. Klaus Tonhäuser (President and CEO PRINOTH Group) and Wolfgang Hettegger (CEO of Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen) represented the perspective of economically active companies in winter sports tourism. Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Ulrike Pröbstl-Haider (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna) enriched the debate with a scientific perspective with her results from decades of research in the field of ecological tourism. The event was moderated by Daniela Zeller.

Climate-neutral ski area

The Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen already rely on an ecologically compatible development. This shows the goal anchored in the corporate strategy of being a climate-neutral ski area by the 2025/26 season. For several years, the mountain railways have been investing millions in order to identify and implement measures for more sustainability. All of the electricity for the cable car and snow-making systems now comes from 100% renewable energy sources. The employees reach their workplaces with electric shuttle buses. For guests from the state of Salzburg, the ski area will cover the costs for the train or bus ticket if they arrive by public transport.

After taking these measures, a carbon footprint was drawn up for the ski resort. It showed that more than 50% of the remaining CO2 emissions of the Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen fall on the slope preparation. "That's why the creation of low-emission alternatives in this area is particularly important," emphasized Wolfgang Hettegger in the debate. “We are currently testing a synthetic fuel for our existing snow groomers that can reduce emissions by 90%. However, this only serves as a temporary solution.”

CO2-free slope preparation with PRINOTH

The snow groomer manufacturer PRINOTH has been successfully developing alternatively powered snow groomers for years, which can cope with the extreme working conditions on the mountain and at the same time emit no CO2. In December 2020, the company presented the LEITWOLF h2MOTION, the world's first snow groomer powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. At the same time, work on other hydrogen technologies was advanced and extensive investments were made in research and development. In September 2022, PRINOTH presented a second world first: a hydrogen concept machine with a combustion engine. This vehicle has now celebrated its debut in slope preparation as part of the Ski World Cup in Flachau. Klaus Tonhäuser expressed his confidence: "We expect that we can bring this concept vehicle to the market ready for series production by 2025. The engine of the LEITWOLF h2MOTION is similar to a diesel engine and offers our customers what they are used to from other machines. This will contribute to the acceptance of the technology. The biggest challenge certainly lies in the production, transport and storage of the hydrogen – and that’s where everyone is involved.”

Equipped with a 13-liter six-cylinder engine developed by FPT Industrial, the LEITWOLF h2MOTION delivers 460 hp (338 kW) and 2,000 Nm of torque. The hydrogen is stored in five tanks mounted on the back of the machine. The hydrogen drive meets criteria such as power requirements and range and is free of CO2 emissions.

Due to its performance and size, the LEITWOLF h2MOTION is primarily designed for sustainable slope preparation in larger ski areas. With the electric HUSKY eMOTION, which is already on the market, and the two hydrogen concept machines, PRINOTH is a leader in the development of sustainable and CO2-free snow groomers.

PRINOTH is an international manufacturer of snow groomers, tracked utility vehicles and machines and attachments for vegetation management with headquarters in Vipiteno, Italy. In addition to customer orientation, the top priority of the company is the development of resource-saving and future-oriented technologies.

The Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen have anchored ecological and economic goals equally in the corporate strategy and have set themselves the goal of becoming a climate-neutral ski area by the 2025/26 season. The importance of the measures and the speed of their implementation mean that the mountain railways play a leading role in the entire DACH region. 

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