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An annual resource consumption of around 49 to 53 million m³ of water and 260 to 309 GWh of electricity for technical snowmaking is forecast for all Austrian ski resorts.
The greenhouse gas emissions caused by snowmaking depend heavily on the electricity mix used, but are low compared to the emissions from the arrival and departure of guests.
The size of the ski area is the most influential factor for resource consumption per hectare, while the altitude has no significant effect on the area-related water and energy requirements.
As the first analysis based on operator data, the study is intended to objectify the often controversial debate on the environmental impact of snowmaking with evidence-based data.
Summary of this study
Snowmaking is a crucial adaptation strategy for ski tourism in the face of climate change. Although snowmaking has been the subject of controversial debate in both the professional community and the media, there have been few studies on its resource consumption. This study provides the first survey-based analysis of water consumption, energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions associated with snowmaking in a major ski tourism market, namely Austria.
Projections for all Austrian ski resorts show a water consumption of between 48.9 and 53.4 million m³ per season (930-1,020 liters per skier visit or 2,749 to 3,002 m³ per hectare) and an electricity demand of 260 to 309 GWh (between 5 and 6 kWh per skier visit or 14,635 to 17,390 kWh per hectare).
Carbon emissions depend largely on the energy mix and range from 120 to 1,230 g CO2e per skier visit. Compared to the travel activities of guests to and from the destinations, the emissions caused by snowmaking are low. The results of this study can serve as a benchmark for ski resorts to increase resource efficiency and support more sustainable destination management. With this work, the authors aim to recalibrate and objectify a contentious debate on climate adaptation by replacing conjecture-based estimates with comprehensive data from cable car operators.
Key findings of this study
- Resource requirements for snowmaking: An annual consumption of around 49 to 53 million m³ of water and 260 to 309 GWh of electricity is forecast for all Austrian ski resorts. This corresponds to around 1.6 % to 1.7 % of the total annual water requirement in Austria.
- Greenhouse gas emissions compared to arrival: The CO2 emissions of snowmaking are low compared to the CO2 footprint of guests' arrival and departure and depend heavily on the electricity mix used. Depending on the energy source, between 120 and 1,230 g of CO2 are produced per skier visit.
- Factors influencing size and altitude: The size of the ski area is the most important factor for resource consumption per hectare, while altitude has no significant effect on the area-related water and energy requirements. However, higher areas tend to consume less electricity per individual guest.
- Objectifying the debate through real data: As the first analysis based on operator data, the study replaces previous estimates with evidence-based facts in order to objectify the often controversial debate on the sustainability of snowmaking. It also serves as a benchmark for ski resorts to further increase their resource efficiency in the future.