Erweiterung Kraftwerk Kirchbichl in Tirol – Herausforderungen an den Spezialtiefbau

Abstract

AbstractTiwag – Tiroler Wasserkraft AG sees itself as a driving force in the energy transition, pursuing the goals of the Tyrolean and Austrian energy strategies with a moderate, environment friendly expansion of hydropower. The projects are essentially aimed at expanding existing power plants so that they can be used more effectively, and additional hydropower potential can be developed. The Kirchbichl Power Plant is a good case in point. From 2017 to 2020, the power plant was made fit for the next decades as part of an extensive refurbishment and expansion project. The main project components are to improve flood security through the construction of an additional weir field, to adapt to enhanced environmental standards through the construction of a fish passage and a power plant for residual flow, and to increase the discharge of the power plant by installing an additional turbine. One of the challenges was the construction pits in the immediate vicinity of the existing system. The pit design with bored pile retaining wall and base seal with a jet grout slab has proven to be very effective.