In Upper Carinthia

Valley wants to become independent in terms of power supply

The Lieser and Malta valleys also want to rely on photovoltaic systems (symbolic image).

(Bild: Wenzel Markus)

The Lieser and Malta valleys are looking for a way out of energy dependency. The two valleys want to become completely self-sufficient in the coming years. Hydrogen is also to be produced in the region.

The individual municipalities in the Lieser and Malta valleys want to further exploit the potential of renewable energies in Upper Carinthia. They are therefore in the process of establishing an energy community.

"We are currently collecting the data and the range of renewable energies available to us," says project manager and Malta's mayor Klaus Rüscher.

Power plant to supply first electricity
Work is already underway on one project. "A small power plant is being installed in the drinking water power plant on the Krainberg in Malta as part of a renovation project - this will also serve as an electricity supplier in future," explains Hermann Florian, local climate model region manager.

The project is set to become a showcase model. "We want to use other sources of drinking water as energy suppliers and therefore get private interested parties and operators on board." Other energy production methods such as PV, wind, biomass and biogas are also to be promoted.

We want to use other sources of drinking water as energy suppliers and therefore bring private interested parties or operators on board.

Hermann Florian, örtlicher Klimamodellregionsmanager

Hydrogen is also to be produced
The aim of the community is to be largely self-sufficient in electricity, to sell surplus electricity on the energy market, to supply regional local and bus transport with local electrical energy or regionally produced hydrogen and to create jobs.