A novel method for prolonging the melt time in snow and ice through restructuring and electro smog removal

Project Information

SNOWTECH

Grant agreement ID: 761388

DOI

10.3030/761388

Project closed

EC signature date 24 January 2017

Start date 1 February 2017

End date 30 April 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ERSO TECHNOLOGY GMBH
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SNOWTECH (A novel method for prolonging the melt time in snow and ice through restructuring and electro smog removal)

Reporting period: 2017-02-01 to 2017-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Nowadays, snow-making technology is fundamental for winter tourism. Without snow-making systems, the slopes of ski resort and ice rinks would no longer be able to meet today's increased demands of the snow sport industry. In this context, ERSO has developed the SnowTech system capable of producing a denser, more compact snow/ice that resists melting for up to 30% longer providing a better skiing surface during a longer period thus, facilitating accurate planning of season opening times.
The SnowTech system is at a technology readiness level (TRL) 6 stage of development. The overall aim of the project is to take the technology to TRL9 and to market launch our solution in compliance with EU Directives and relevant certifications for this kind of technology (CE marking and EU Ecolabel).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work executed during the 3-month reporting period (February to April 2017) has been completed to cover the tasks below and assess the technical, commercial, and financial viability of SnowTech:
- Task 1. Technical Feasibility: to refine the design and process of our technology with industrialization purposes increasing production capacity and reducing production costs.
- Task 2. Certification Study: to research the viability of achieving a certification for our SnowTech machinery via CE marking and EU Ecolabel certification.
- Task 3. Commercialization and Marketing Plan: to set up supply chains and a customer base for the industrial production of SnowTech machinery. This will include a detailed commercial and marketing plan so as to fully investigate market size, trends, key clients, and how to successfully penetrate the artificial snow machinery industry.
- Task 4. Financial Feasibility Study: of the entire project to evaluate revenues, margins, and return on investment, and consolidate the business plan.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The SnowTech system allows the restructuring of the natural structure of water that combined with the reduction in electro smog and the removal of air bubbles is capable of producing snow at higher temperature (up to 2 °C) with the consequent reduction in energy and water usage (up to 30%), increase in overall lifetime (melting time) and prolongation of artificial ski season.
Alpine countries such as Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic (with 2,119 ski resorts and 200 million skier days a year) will be our priority markets due to market size and their need for energy and water efficient artificial snow production equipment.

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