Austria’s Tiefenbach Glacier has 60 upright solar masts already generating electricity above the snow, with 800 units planned
The Tiefenbach Glacier in Austria is a surprising place to harness solar energy.
Solar structures stand upright above the snow, already generating electricity, and a much larger installation is being built across the mountainous terrain.
The structures look almost out of place in this frozen landscape at first glance. But their odd design is not an accident. They are designed to work in the mountain environment, turning some of its most difficult conditions into potential benefits for generating electricity.
According to Bergbahnen Sölden, the alpine setup is expected to generate as much as 40 percent more revenue than comparable systems at lower altitudes.
They stand here, like a carefully arranged forest above the winter snow. Why would you put a solar power plant in a place better known for ice, snow, and severe weather?
A solar glacier project
The installation is located on the Tiefenbach glacier near Sölden, at an altitude of some 2,850 meters above sea level.
The location offers some unusual advantages for solar generation. The high altitude brings low temperatures, strong sunlight, and clean air, creating conditions favorable for solar farms.
Ordinary solar equipment is difficult to use at this altitude due to the snow and extreme conditions.
The system was put to the test by Bergbahnen Sölden in 2023. The technology that developed for high-altitude environments is HELIOPLANT.
Instead of laying the panels flat, they stand them up vertically in tree-like structures.
The design was tested in alpine conditions in a pilot phase up to 2024.
The results meant that the project could graduate from the experimental stage.
In 2025, the company began to extend the installation across the mountain. The project is moving from demonstration to full-scale production.
Why are the panels on top of the snow?
Opting for vertical solar panels might sound weird. Most installations tilt the panels toward the sun, but the glacier changes the equation.
The output of conventional panels can be reduced by snow on the surface.
The upright HELIOPLANT structures are designed to alleviate that problem. Their shape means the snow flows around the modules rather than burying them.
Also, structures for avalanche protection are used as the basis for the design.
The individual structures are substantial installations.
Their vertical design also creates airflow around the modules, helping prevent snow from settling on the surfaces.
The bright surface of the snow can reflect sunlight onto the panels, which then reflect light onto both sides of the PV modules.
According to Bergbahnen Sölden, the alpine setup is expected to generate as much as 40 percent more revenue than comparable systems at lower altitudes.
Cold temperatures, strong sunlight, and reflective snow contribute to the energy potential.
The structures are built to stand up to extreme mountain conditions.
From 60 to 800 operating units
The scale of the expansion is what really makes the project stand out. In the expansion phase of 2025, Bergbahnen Sölden had 60 HELIOPLANT units in operation and feeding electricity into the grid.
The larger project calls for 800 units in the glacier area. The company said once complete, the installation is expected to produce 6.3 megawatts peak.
Foundations and electrical infrastructure is being installed for the structures at selected locations.
The electricity will be fed into the company’s own medium-voltage network. This means the ski area can use the power immediately.
This local connection is particularly important for a ski resort with significant energy demands.
Cable cars, mountain restaurants, and technical equipment all require electricity to keep operations running.
The aim is practical.
The electricity generated will help power the infrastructure that keeps the ski area operating.
The Tiefenbach Glacier project is a good example of how solar technology can be adapted to locations where conventional installations may not work. Some of these conditions, like snow, altitude, and extreme weather, are taken into consideration.
Bronwyn has over 20 years of experience in media, digital publishing, and storytelling as a journalist, content creator, and publishing editor. She writes about various niches and has a keen interest in science, technology, energy, and innovation.
