PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Measures to increase the energy resilience of mountaineering tourism infrastructure are vital for the development of mountainous regions. Recent studies suggest important impacts of climate change on the energy sector and underpin the need for adaptation, notably in the electricity sector.
Mountain huts are usually isolated from heating and electricity grids. They depend on fossil-fuel powered generators and boilers. Equipment and fuel is often supplied by helicopter, a costly mean of transport and another source of CO2 emissions and pollution. The huts, being made of stone, are often highly energy inefficient.
The development of energy-saving measures that significantly improve the sustainability and resilience of the off-grid mountain sector will contribute not only to the EU climate adaptation strategy but also to climate change mitigation, nature conservation and biodiversity objectives. In particular, achieving sustainable and nearly zero emissions mountain huts will bring biodiversity benefits due to the strategic zones where huts are located, including Natura 2000 network sites and biosphere reserves.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE SUSTAINHUTS aimed to reduce CO2 emissions from buildings in mountain huts. The project also aimed to prevent air pollution, preserve mountainous forests, promote sustainable tourism and introduce environmentally-friendly methods for the production, distribution and use of energy.
Specific project objectives were as follows:
- Creation of a resource assessment campaign adapted to extreme mountain conditions, measuring and evaluating the demonstration sites at micro level;
- Design and simulation of environmentally friendly off-grid renewable installations adapted to different mountain environments;
- Design of a complete off-grid hydrogen cycle, including an adapted electrolyser Balance of Plant (BOP), able to withstand critical water conditions of mountain environments, and a hybrid storage system;
- Integration of innovative and alternative technologies in mountain huts, such as hybrid storage systems and fuel cells to reduce fossil fuel dependency;
- Selection and installation of new-generation insulation materials that are more environmentally-friendly, have a low carbon cycle, increase the insulation capacity of the building by 10% of energy heat savings and are cost-competitive;
- Implementation and demonstration of nine nearly zero-emission demonstration mountain huts in four different European countries (involving different operational conditions of altitude and temperature):one demo-hut at low altitude (<1 000m), four at medium altitude (1 000-2 000 m), three at high altitude (2 000-3 000 m) and one at extremely high altitude (>3 000m);
- Development of a life-cycle assessment of the huts to determine the environmental impacts of the new technologies compared with those currently used; and
- Development of guidelines for mountain huts and off-grid areas to promote the replication of results.
RESULTS
SUSTAINHUTS implemented a total of 22 energy-related technologies in 9 mountain huts. Monitoring was conducted in a total of 11 huts in Spain, France, Slovenia and Italy. The monitoring results confirmed the relevance and performance of the project technologies to improve energy efficiency, and reduce diesel consumption and greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions. The monitoring methodology was also confirmed to be adequate and technically robust. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was also undertaken concerning electricity generation, heat generation and transport, along with a cost assessment of the technologies.
The most innovative part of the project was the design, installation and operation of the hydrogen storage system in the Bachimaña hut, which has a strong demonstration value as a seasonal renewable energy storage solution. It enabled the testing of an autonomous hybrid system, using energy produced by mini-hydro, in a high altitude hut (2 200 m). Such a system has never been implemented before in Europe in these circumstances, and it can certainly be replicated or transferred to other huts and off-grid remote systems with local renewable energy production.
The project team reduced CO2 emissions for all the mountain huts, by implementing energy efficiency actions and energy technologies. Although COVID-19 impacted the project, with most of the huts closed for many months in 2020 and 2021, the beneficiaries collected sufficient data to validate the technological and energy approaches, and confirm that they were cost-effective in the long-term and could lead to notable energy and cost savings.
The main quantified environmental benefits delivered during the demonstration period were:
- Production of 144 404 kWh from renewable sources (sun, water, and wood)
- Saving of 29 433 litres of diesel
- Saving of 9 207 kg of natural gas
- Saving of 4 179 litres of propane gas
- Reduction of CO2 emission by 145.64 tonnes.
In addition, reduced fossil fuel use was also associated with fewer helicopter trips to transport fuels to the huts. It was estimated that 14 trips were avoided on average per year, corresponding to about 1.4 tonnes of kerosene (equivalent to 0.28 tons of CO2 per year).
The project team produced guidance documents to promote the uptake and replication of the methodologies and technologies in other mountain huts, which are available on the project’s website. The project also raised awareness among hut owners/managers and other relevant stakeholders about renewable energy sources and micro-grid improvements.
The LCA also showed that the project provided social and economic benefits, and resulted in a higher community engagement. Furthermore, the project was beneficial for the "public image" of the mountain huts regarding sustainability.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
