Energy

Since autumn 2014, we have been measuring and analysing the total energy consumption of Arosa Bergbahnen AG and Lenzerheide Bergbahnen AG in collaboration with the Energie-Agentur der Wirtschaft (EnAW) (pdf). We now know every energy consumer, from the engine of the snow groomer to the chairlift drivetrain, the fridge in the mountain restaurant and every single light. We know the energy consumption and condition of each device, and how much energy in total (electricity, heating oil, fuel and pellets) is being used. This is comprised as follows: 31% for slope preparation, 23% for cableways, 18% for buildings (mountain and valley stations, workshops, offices), 16% for snow-making, and 12% in our mountain restaurants.

Together with EnAW, we have also identified options to enhance efficiency and formulated measures to reduce energy consumption over the next ten years. A small example: Electric heaters are installed in various command rooms to heat the rooms and prevent frost.

In future, we will equip these with time switches, which will switch off the heaters in the evening and work with frost tempering at night. This conversion of 50 electric heaters will reduce the annual operating time by 370 hours each, i.e. 18,500 hours in total, resulting in savings of some 40,700 kWh. The electricity saved in this way can be used to operate the Obertor chairlift (east-west connection) for 127 operating days, i.e. an entire winter season.

We want to improve the company's energy efficiency by a further 5.9% and reduce CO2 emissions by some 10% over the next ten years. We have committed to achieving these objectives in an agreement with the Swiss Office of Energy. Progress is measured every year.

In 2021, the Arosa mountain railways will cover their entire energy requirements with renewable energy from hydropower, which will be generated from the Schanfigger hydropower plants of arosaenergie. The hydropower supplies an annual energy volume of around 5'500'00 kWh to the Arosa mountain railways.

Just in time for the start of the winter season 2020/21, we could take delivery of our first «green snow groomer». This makes us one of three Swiss snow sports resorts to set another milestone in sustainable slope preparation with the use of a «PistenBully 600 E+» from Kässbohrer. We already had a first test vehicle in use in the 2019/20 winter season. According to the manufacturer, the «PistenBully 600 E+» is the cleanest and simultaneously the quietest vehicle in the snow. With its diesel-electric drive, the green PistenBully promises the lowest emissions, thanks to the massively reduced diesel consumption. We are convinced that this will further reduce CO2 consumption and thus contribute to a snow sports operation that is as CO2 neutral as possible. 

The new «PistenBully 600 E+» is based on the «PistenBully 600 Polar», which we already have in operation. With its Cummins X12 and diesel particulate filter, the «PistenBully 600 Polar» was the first snow groomer to meet the requirements of EU emission level V as early as 2018. The constant operation of the diesel engine in the optimal speed range now makes the new «PistenBully 600 E+» even more efficient, economical and 20% quieter than the «PistenBully 600 Polar».  

When driving uphill, the engine drives the generator and the hydraulic pumps via the transfer case, resulting in 16% more thrust on the mountain. The intelligent energy management ensures that during descent the electric motor supports the transfer case and the hydraulic pumps as a generator. These reliefs the engine and significantly reduces diesel consumption, resulting in up to 20% lower NOX and CO2 emissions. In addition, 99% fewer soot particles are released into the environment. 

Each snow groomer pulls a snow blower behind it, which chops up the snow compacted by the tracks and smooths it with a rake. Usually, the blower is hydraulically operated, but the «PistenBully 600 E+» uses an electric drive. And since the tiller is always running, right down to the last few metres in the garage, there is always a power-hungry consumer available. By using the recuperated energy, the diesel engine is relieved and diesel consumption is reduced. The actual reduction in consumption is achieved through recuperation. Whenever the «PistenBully 600 E+» drives downhill, the motors on the tracks work as generators and recover energy.  

To achieve the savings predicted by the manufacturer, special driving skills, sensitivity and prudent slope preparation are required. After all, the driver has a decisive influence on diesel consumption. He sets the desired driving speed with the accelerator pedal. The intelligent vehicle control system calculates the best possible operating point from this, depending on the slope gradient, travel speed and milling power, at which the diesel engine provides the required power in a way that optimizes consumption. This means that the machine is always operated at the lowest possible speed with high capacity utilization. In the future, slope preparation will thus be even more demanding than it already is.  

Since we constantly document the diesel consumption of our snow groomers, we can analyse the actual consumption and compare it with conventional snow groomers. At the end of the season we will be able to determine how much diesel we have been able to save with the «Green PistenBully». If our results match those of the manufacturer, we will replace existing snow groomers with the «PistenBully 600 E+» where possible and sensible. 

All restaurants, stations and operation buildings are linked to the system and can be controlled, managed and monitored centrally. Among other things, this optimizes the heating, ventilation, lighting and kitchen infrastructure. A complete system was developed to analyse weather data, monitor oil tanks and cableway operations, support restaurant services and optimally steer and regulate the use of energy.

The data from the linked buildings are recorded, assessed and analysed continuously, and measures for more sustainable energy consumption are planned. The analysis of the recorded data allows us to efficiently implement energy management by constantly optimizing the settings. Here are a few examples.

A functioning and individual control system offers the potential to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings integrated into the system by 10 to 20 percent. This is only possible if the results are regularly analysed and the settings optimized. The success of the system, i.e. the energy savings potential lies in actively adapting it to the prevailing and individual circumstances. This is the objective we are working towards. Every day.

As one of only two tourism projects in Switzerland, we were nominated in the sustainability category for the prestigious Swiss Tourism Milestone Award in 2014. Although not the winner, the nomination was a great honour and sign of recognition of our sustainability efforts.

Regulating ventilation, heating and lighting, which play a central role in the control system, offers a great deal of potential for energy savings. Exciting projects to optimise energy consumption have already been carried out.

• Our system takes action the evening before: if there is an 80% chance of good weather the next day, the heating output in the Scharmoin mountain restaurant is automatically reduced.
• Heating and ventilation interact perfectly at the Scharmoin restaurant: individual room temperatures are regulated according to the position of the sun (weather), the quality of the air and the temperature of the room. The objective is to avoid producing more heat than really necessary.

Heating for the Mottahütte, Piz Scalottas, Rothorngipfel and Lavos mountain restaurants, which are difficult to access, is controlled from the valley. All electrical heaters and gutter de-icers are regulated according to the outside temperature. This means that the heating is reduced during the night and the non-operating shoulder seasons. Only minimal heating is used on cold days to prevent frost. When the temperature is above zero, the heating automatically switches off.
 

A sophisticated system to regulate the lighting was installed at the Scharmoin mountain restaurant. This system works with the factors «presence», «light intensity» and «time». The intensity of the light in the rooms is determined by the position of the sun. Basic values for brightness are defined for the control system. When the lights are switched on, the system regulates their brightness according to the defined values. The lights automatically switch off at specific hours – but only after the staff have left.

The pellet heating system in the Scharmoin mountain restaurant has been equipped with a modern control system setting new standards for energy measurement, heat distribution and individual room control.

An energy valve manufactured by Belimo was installed for the first time in Switzerland at the Scharmoin restaurant to measure the energy needed for the heating bar. This measurement is passed on to the pellet heating system, which produces only as much energy as required at any particular time. This has a positive effect on the switch-on duration of the pellet heating. We achieve longer firing times while avoiding inefficient firing up and uncontrolled burning processes. During the first winter, only a third of the expected pellets were needed to heat the new restaurant. The valve also constantly measures consumption, which makes it easy to prepare precise figures about energy consumption at the end of the heating period.

The entire heating bar at the Scharmoin restaurant is controlled and regulated by the building services control system. All relevant factors such as the outside temperature, weather forecast, room temperature, etc. are considered by the system. Usually, the difference between the target and current temperatures is one- to two-tenths of a degree. This is mandatory for achieving a comfortable temperature.

It is also possible to separately and individually regulate each room at the Scharmoin mountain restaurant. Energy is therefore efficiently generated and used in an exceedingly sustainable manner. Factors such as current and target temperatures, position of the sun, sunshine, weather, weather forecast and expected heat production (e.g. people, computers) are taken into account for the individual room control.

 All cooling systems used by LBB AG are equipped with temperature sensors. Changes in temperature can be recorded for all cooling cells. This makes it possible to monitor the quality of cooling as well as the defrosting times.