- This year’s prize focuses on sustainable water use
- Irrigation system in Prutz (District of Landeck), drinking-water hydropower plant in Axams (District of Innsbruck-Land) and an exhibition in Landeck selected by the Tyrolean jury as regional winning projects
- Regional selection advances to the second round — international jury to make the final decision
This year’s ARGE ALP (Working Community of Alpine Regions) Prize is dedicated to sustainable water use. The call sought projects that contribute to saving water or to the economical use of drinking water or those that raise awareness of responsible water management. The prize, endowed with a total of 12,000 Euros, was announced in all ten member regions of ARGE ALP. Seven submissions were submitted in Tyrol. From these, a regional jury selected three Tyrolean winning projects: the irrigation system in Prutz (District of Landeck), the drinking-water hydropower plant in Axams (District of Innsbruck-Land), and the exhibition on the journey of water in Landeck. Governor Anton Mattle and Deputy Governor Josef Geisler, responsible for water management, invited the Tyrolean winners to the Regional Government Building in Innsbruck. Their projects now proceed to the second round, in which an international jury will make the final selection.
“The ARGE ALP Prize this year addresses a very important theme: the responsible use of the resource water. This is essential for the environment, the economy and quality of life — in Tyrol and throughout the Alpine region. I congratulate those whose submissions have made it into the Tyrolean regional selection. The three projects stand out not only for their innovative approaches, but also for their exemplary character for other Alpine regions,” emphasised Governor Mattle. Deputy Governor Geisler added: “The ARGE ALP Prize is an excellent opportunity to highlight outstanding Tyrolean projects that promote sustainable water use. Water is the basis of life and, especially in Tyrol, indispensable when it comes to clean energy and Tyrol’s goal of energy independence by 2050.”
Large-scale irrigation — with energy generation
The planned irrigation system in Prutz is intended to supply agricultural land equivalent to around 150 football pitches (107 hectares). The inner-Alpine dry regions of the Tyrolean “Oberland” are increasingly affected by low annual precipitation. In order to continue grassland farming, arable cultivation and fruit growing successfully, the Prutz Water Cooperative was established, chaired by Bernhard Hofer. Together with the Climate Change Adaptation Model Region (KLAR!) Kaunergrat and the Climate and Energy Model Region (KEM) Landeck, the cooperative developed a project for climate-resilient agriculture. A particular feature is its combination with a small hydropower plant. The irrigation system not only requires no electricity, as it uses natural gravity, but also allows electrical energy to be generated at times when irrigation is not required, using water diverted from the Faggenbach stream. This can supply green electricity to almost 200 average households. Initial studies were carried out as early as 2021; the project is currently in the approval phase and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
“Drink2Power”: using drinking water twice
The new drinking-water hydropower plant in Axams is designed to serve both drinking-water supply and electricity generation. This dual use of water is particularly suited to the Alpine region: in Tyrol, more than 90 per cent of drinking water comes from springs that must descend in altitude on their way to storage reservoirs and taps — a drop that can also be used to generate electricity. The Municipality of Axams, led by Mayor Thomas Suitner, launched the project in cooperation with the Energy Agency Tyrol and AEP Planning and Consulting GmbH, in the course of renewing pipelines as part of constructing a small hydropower plant. This made it possible to exploit synergies and secure the municipality’s drinking-water supply for the long term. The planned drinking-water hydropower plant will be fed by more than 20 springs and will generate 100 per cent renewable, sustainable electricity before the drinking water enters the storage reservoir. Together with an existing small hydropower plant and a municipal photovoltaic initiative, this will produce electricity for around 1,500 households in Axams. Ground was broken on the project at the beginning of May this year, and the plant is due to go into operation in August. With the establishment of an energy community, the electricity generated can be used for public buildings, the Axamer Lizum ski area and other consumers.
From glacier to riverbed: experiencing the water cycle anew
To raise awareness of climate and environmental protection — particularly with regard to the water cycle — a project by KLAR! Landeck and Surroundings, in cooperation with the Talkessel Marketing organisation of the Landeck region, aims to make a contribution. Both bodies are chaired by Florian Schweiger. The project plans an exhibition for the local population illustrating the journey of water: from the glacier summit of the Parseierspitze at over 3,000 metres down to the riverbed of the River Inn at 760 metres above sea level. A team of local film-makers and photographers will highlight key thematic focal points representative of the region, including the visible retreat of the glacier and the historic Waal irrigation system. The project seeks to translate the complex issues of climate and environmental protection to a local level, bringing the scope for action and the need to act directly home to the population. Parts of the project have already been implemented since autumn 2023.
International winning projects to be announced in October
Following the decision of the international jury, the award ceremony will take place on 25 October 2024 as part of the ARGE ALP Conference of Heads of Government in the current chair region of Ticino. The first prize is endowed with 6,000 Euros, the second with 4,000 Euros and the third with 2,000 Euros. Further information on the ARGE ALP Prize can be found on the ARGE ALP website at www.argealp.org.
Click here to view the regional film on the Tyrolean winning projects.