Hans-Peter Gallenberger installed the first photovoltaic system for power supply on the remote hiker’s mountain hut near Mittenwald as early as 1984. That is just 2 years after building one of the first pilot plants for research into off-grid power supplies in Germany (the “Energielabor” at the University of Oldenburg).
Today, 3kWp of photovoltaics, a small hydroelectric power plant and a battery system are available for a fully self-sufficient power supply. The energy supply is supplemented by a solar collector (hot water). The waste water is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way by a certified small sewage treatment plant that has been positively assessed several times.
It should not only be mentioned in passing that the hut keepers pay attention to the most authentic cuisine possible with regional food. In this way, they contribute to the preservation of the culture and natural environment of the western Karwendel.
PPRE’s excursion is well known amongst the readers of this newsletter. Since 2010, about 25 international students from the "Postgraduate Programme Renewable Energy" (www.ppre.de) at the University of Oldenburg have visited the Brunnsteinhuette each year - except for the Corona period. From Afghanistan to Venezuela, there were probably students from over 30 countries. Here you can see everything in real application that you previously studied in the lecture hall away from practice.
It seems the department of the German Alpine Association (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV) owning the hut plans to connect the hut to the public supply and disposal network. Whether this development will make the operation of the hut more ecological and easier in the long term remains to be critically questioned. However, a holistic view gives the impression of anachronistic planning that runs counter to the general trend.
My students found a role model for the use of renewable energy sources, supply and disposal management through energy, water, sewage and waste, and were inspired for their future careers.
The guided hut tours by Hans-Peter Gallenberger with his infinite wealth of experience and commitment to environmental protection as well as the hospitality of Barbara Gallenberger and team are thus known worldwide today. And last but not least: With the excellent cuisine, these young people from all over the world take a piece of Karwendel culture back home.
Barbara and Hans-Peter will retire in October 2023; the hut will be handed over to a successor. With these mountain hut keepers, an era is coming to an end.
A forward-thinking project will now pass to a successor. Good luck and best wishes to this successor from Oldenburg.
For me it was the very last mountain hike with my dear students. On October 1st 2023 I will retire.
Text by Hans Holtorf
Read more about it on the website of the Deutscher Alpenverein.