Sölden is overhauling lift ops - new high‑capacity chairlifts, smart slope connection, expanded artificial snowmaking & on‑mountain renewable energy

Sölden still looks like high season on the glaciers: skiers carve leisurely turns while crews work behind the scenes to retool how the mountain runs. Faced with shorter winters, rising energy costs, and glacial change, Bergbahnen Sölden is investing in technology — from digital control systems and AI safety features to expanded snowmaking and photovoltaic units — to make operations more efficient and more resilient.

Sölden’s most visible changes are two major lift replacements due to open for the 2025/26 winter season: the Einzeiger and Silberbrünnl chairlifts will be replaced by detachable 8‑seater chairlifts with weather‑protection bubbles and much higher hourly capacities — up to 4,000 and 3,800 passengers per hour respectively — shortening transfer times and reducing queues. These modern lifts also incorporate advanced control and safety systems from the manufacturer.

Beneath the lift upgrades sits a strategic piste redesign: a new slope connection between pistes 7 and 22 will link the four main valley points (Gaislachkogl, Sölden town centre, Postplatz, and Giggijoch), adding roughly 1.8 km of piste (about 2.13 hectares) and creating a continuous, gentler blue run that improves beginner access and provides a reliable low‑altitude alternative on stormy days. Resort planners say the link will also reduce village traffic by lowering dependence on shuttle buses.

Technology is being applied beyond lifts and pistes. Artificial snow infrastructure is being expanded and modernized — including a network of snow guns and a long snow pipe to secure coverage on the new valley link — while digital slope‑guidance and AI‑assisted monitoring are being rolled out to optimize grooming, safety checks, and lift operations in real time. These systems aim to cut energy use and staff time while improving guest experience.

Energy innovation is also part of the plan. At the Tiefenbach Glacier (2,850 m) Sölden is piloting a photovoltaic project using vertical HELIOPLANT units designed to stay clear of snow and minimize footprint, signaling a move to generate on‑site renewable power at altitude. Resort documents frame this as a way to reduce reliance on external electricity and to lower the carbon intensity of snowmaking and lift operation.

The combined approach — infrastructure renewal, smarter snowmaking, digital operations, and on‑mountain renewables — reflects a broader industry shift: ski areas are treating technology as a tool for climate adaptation and cost control rather than a luxury. Observers note that while these measures improve resilience, they are not a substitute for long‑term climate solutions; they do, however, buy time and preserve the economic lifeblood of alpine communities.

What to watch next: the rollout of the new lifts and the Tiefenbach photovoltaic units in the 2025/26 season, and whether the digital systems measurably reduce energy use and operating costs once fully commissioned.