River Litz Hydroelectric Power Station Pipeline

After only 16 months’ construction, the first of three generators started producing electricity in the new powerhouse on the River Litz in Silbertal (Vorarlberg). Shortly afterwards, in May 1998, the whole hydroelectric plant went into operation. Construction costs totaling just over 11 million euros and annual power generation of around 22 million kWh make Litz one of the most cost-effective hydroelectric plants in Austria (51 cents/kWh). Some 4,400 homes in the outer Montafon region have since been supplied with electricity from Silbertal. Naturally the best hydroelectric power station is no use without equally efficient penstocks. The new Litz power station exploits the river’s fall from the area above Höllbrücke to Tobelmühle on the outskirts of Schruns, feeding water over a total distance of 1,655 meters and height of 90 meters to the turbines at a rate of 8 m³/sec. Here 1,290 meters were laid using the HOBAS CC-GRP Pressure Pipe Systems.