Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen Testing Snow Groomers Running On HVO Fuel

21 snow groomers are in action on the Planai and Hochwurzen night after night to prepare the approximately 60 kilometers of slopes for the following day. In the 2022/23 winter season, the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen are now testing a snow groomer in an international project together with the snow groomer manufacturer Prinoth, which is climate-friendly with synthetic HVO fuel and is said to cause up to 90% less CO2 when burned.

“This winter we are using two identical models in our snow groomer fleet for test purposes. One runs on conventional diesel, one on palm oil-free HVO fuel. At the end of the winter season we can draw the first conclusions. The aim is to be climate-neutral with our devices in the future," says Planai snow groomer manager Wolfgang Perhab.

HVO-Fuel consists of vegetable and animal fat waste, which is synthetically produced and results in a high-quality fuel made from renewable raw materials. The structure is identical to fossil diesel, so it is not necessary to convert the snow groomers.

“The Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen stand for resource-saving action. Various energy optimization measures have already been implemented in recent years. Examples of this are resource-saving snow management, the implementation of photovoltaic systems or the test operation of e-buses for regional transport. With the testing of a snow groomer operated with HVO fuel, we are taking a further step in the direction of sustainability,” adds Planai Managing Director Dir. Georg Bliem.