Tunnelling | Tunnelling into the future
From steep mountain passes to expansive underground networks, Herrenknecht’s tunnelling expertise highlights the challenges and rewards of renewable energy innovation
References
Based on an article by Mathias Becker:
https://www.herrenknecht. com/en/newsroom/ keytopicdetail/advance-for-a- green-hydropower-energy/
EVEN THE SEASONED TUNNELLERS aboard the tunnel boring machine (TBM) felt the anticipation. On October 3, 2022, after three months of excavation, TBM S-1319 pierced through to the target cavern of the Limberg 3 hydropower project deep in the High Tauern mountain range near Salzburg, Austria. It was a moment to celebrate. “At that moment, the tension of many months fell away from us,” recalled Steffen Wiedemer, Herrenknecht project manager. “This was a mission I really wanted to see up close.” The mission was a remarkable feat: the construction of a 770m-long inclined shaft at a dizzying 42-degree gradient. The 105m-long gripper TBM, weighing nearly 1,000 tonnes, was engineered to tackle the incline, far steeper than Innsbruck’s
famed Bergisel ski jump. “Such a steep incline poses extreme challenges for the machine and therefore the whole team,” Wiedemer noted. This achievement is more than just a technical
milestone; it’s a symbol of how cutting-edge engineering is helping to shape the future of renewable energy. Hydropower remains a crucial pillar in the global fight against climate change, and projects like Limberg 3 demonstrate what’s possible when expertise, innovation, and determination converge.
Engineered for precision and safety For steep-gradient projects like Limberg 3,
innovation is critical. Herrenknecht’s TBM platforms, for example, tilt to match the shaft’s angle,
Right: Precision design for steep inclines: For the Snowy 2.0 project in Australia for example, the working platforms on the back-ups are tilted according to the inclination during excavation of the inclined pressure shaft
20 | January 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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