Strong performance in difficult terrain
In the heart of the Dolomites, in the South Tyrolean municipality of Tiers, an important infrastructure project for sustainable energy generation was realized: the construction of the Lippen hydropower plant. The aim was to use the natural resources of the Kalterer river efficiently in order to make a long-term contribution to the regional, green power supply while protecting the special topography and the environment.
The planned pressure pipeline had to overcome an height difference of around 1,200 meters over a distance of more than 1,700 meters. The route through alpine terrain presented planners and construction companies with considerable challenges: steep slopes, changing geological conditions, very limited space for machinery and materials as well as several complex terrain points - including a bridge crossing, integration into an existing flood barrier and numerous high and low points with difficult transitions.
TRM supplied the right solution for this challenging task: DN 500 ductile iron pipes with a pressure rating of PN 40 - designed for high pressure conditions, heavy loads and long-term operational reliability. The tried and tested VRS®-T joint was used, a restrained push-in socket joint that was specially developed for difficult installation conditions.
This connection not only offers maximum stability, but also a high degree of flexibility during installation - a feature that proved to be particularly valuable in this project, for example in the event of short-term adjustments to the terrain or changeable weather conditions. Thanks to the easy-to-handle design of the pipes, the pipeline could be installed without any problems, even in the tightest of spaces.
Despite the logistical and structural challenges, the project was successfully completed within the planned time frame. The robust TRM ductile iron pipeline now forms the heart of the new power plant, which reliably generates clean energy for the region.
We would like to thank the municipality of Tiers and all our project partners for the trust they have placed in us and are delighted that our products were able to make a contribution to a sustainable energy future, even in challenging terrain.
Safe water supply.
www.trm.at
