The planned "Salzachkraftwerk Golling" power plant will have an output of around 32 MW and generate around 142 million kilowatt hours of green electricity from hydropower every year. On average, this is enough to supply 35,000 to 40,000 households. The environment and, above all, the careful treatment of the Salzach Gorge are a particularly high priority in project development.
Salzach power
station Golling
What is the Salzach power plant in Golling?
The power plant consists of a weir system with an intake structure and fish migration aids downstream of the Tauern motorway bridge at Pass Lueg. A 2 kilometre long pressure tunnel through the Ofenauerberg will channel part of the Salzach's water to the powerhouse in the Gollinger district of Ofenau in the Taggerstraße area, where the electricity produced will be fed into the existing medium-voltage grid.
Energy dialogue Golling
The kick-off for the regional Golling Energy Dialogue took place on 14 June 2024. Over the course of two days, the people of Golling were invited to find out about the current state of planning and to ask the project operators their questions. The next exchange is planned for autumn 2024. We will inform you here as soon as the exact date is set.
Capacity and generation
- Total bottleneck capacity approx. 32 MW
- Balancing capacity 142 million kWh per year
- corresponds to an average annual consumption of approx. 35 to 40,000 households
Water flow in the Salzach Gorge
The issues of future water flow and ecology in the gorge will be addressed as part of the comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA). As a guideline for the water level in the Salzach Gorge, at least the current winter water flow of the Salzach is given, while in two months of the year the water flow is also higher. During high and low water, the conditions do not change compared to the current state, as the power plant operation is discontinued.
The huge erosion scours on the rock faces caused by the turbulence of the flowing water remain clearly visible. The Salzach water will continue to drive these erosion processes incessantly in the future. The sound of the rushing water is reflected by the rock faces and can still be experienced by visitors.
Focus on ecology and biodiversity
All parts of the project for the Salzach power plant in Golling are located outside the Natura 2000 area "Schluchtwald Stegenwald" and are therefore not affected by the project. VERBUND and Salzburg AG are focussing in particular on biodiversity and the environment during planning. Prior to construction, affected animals such as birds, amphibians, snakes and beetles are moved to previously created replacement habitats.
Circular economy relieves pressure on the public road network
The project operators are aiming for a circular economy that is as continuous as possible during realisation. This should ensure that the majority of traffic is handled within the construction site in order to relieve the public road network as much as possible. This will reduce the fuel consumption of construction vehicles and lorries to such an extent that the CO2 balance of the construction site will be balanced out after just a few months of power plant operation.
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