Protecting permafrost for the future on the mountain
The constant dynamics of nature also affect the permafrost soil on Piz Nair. Unstable rock layers due to thawing permafrost are already causing measurable shifts in the area of the Piz Nair mountain station. In order to meet this challenge with foresight, Engadin St. Moritz Mountains AG is the first company in Europe to use an innovative thermosiphon system. This is sustainable, low-maintenance and requires no external energy sources. The process actively contributes to the protection and preservation of the permafrost and thus stabilizes the mountain station and its surroundings. This is an important step towards preserving the tourist excursion mountain for decades to come. At the same time, the project makes an active contribution to implementing the Swiss Sustainable Development Goals as part of the 2030 Agenda.
- Project status: Under construction
- Start of construction: 2025
- Completion: 2025
- Costs: CHF 1.7 million
Project manager Thomas Brunner
"In order to maintain the infrastructure on Piz Nair and thus ensure the operation of the cable car, we developed the Thermosiphons solution as part of an international project team. This will hopefully secure tourist access to St. Moritz's local mountain for decades to come."
Imagine nature cooling itself - without any electricity or noise. This is exactly what happens on Piz Nair with thermosiphons: a quiet but effective technology that works without electricity or moving parts and yet is extremely effective. They stabilize the permafrost soil and thus protect our mountain environment.
The principle behind it is as simple as it is effective. CO₂ is circulated in a closed steel pipe system solely through temperature differences. In the underground evaporator, which is located in the permanently frozen permafrost, the liquid CO₂ absorbs heat from the ground and evaporates. The warm CO₂ rises, reaches the above-ground condenser (radiator) and releases its stored heat into the cool mountain air. It cools down, condenses and flows back into the ground and the cycle starts all over again.
This quiet but effective technology not only protects the infrastructure on the mountain, but also helps to preserve a piece of our unique Alpine landscape for future generations. With no pump, electricity or emissions, the system offers a sustainable solution with a minimal ecological footprint. It is reliable, resource-saving and virtually maintenance-free. Engadin St. Moritz Mountains AG is the first company in Europe to use this innovative solution for the targeted stabilization of thawing permafrost. This not only safeguards the sensitive alpine environment in the long term, but is also a forward-looking way of meeting the constant dynamics of nature with technical intelligence and a sense of ecological responsibility.
