Limberg Dam - Kaprun

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All photos: © Liebherr

The Limberg Dam in Kaprun is an impressive technical masterpiece—and the first dam in Austria ever to be raised. By the time construction is completed in 2027, its height will increase by 8.7 meters, from 120 meters to 128.7 meters.

The objective is clear: a higher dam means greater storage capacity and, as a result, more renewable energy generation. After completion, the Wasserfallboden reservoir will store 12.7 million cubic meters more water, increasing energy storage capacity by around 30 gigawatt-hours.

251006 Erhöhung Talsperre Limberg © Liebherr 10

Engineering at High Altitude

Working at this elevation adds an extra layer of complexity. The dam crest lies at 1,673 meters above sea level, and raising the structure requires about 32,000 m³ of concrete. To keep transport and placement efficient, a massive crane was installed on the dam crest in just three days. Assembly required a 150‑ton mobile crane, and even access to the site had to be adapted: an 80‑meter tunnel leading to the dam was widened to enable the necessary logistics.

251006 Erhöhung Talsperre Limberg © Liebherr 4

A One-of-a-Kind Crane on the Dam Crest

The crane itself is a unique solution. Developed together with Liebherr, it was specially designed for the narrow dam crest. With a 65‑meter jib, it can cover large parts of the construction site and move along rails on top of the dam. Weighing more than 219 tons, it is built for extreme alpine conditions and remains stable even in storm winds of up to 220 km/h when out of operation.

More Than a Construction Project

For SWIETELSKY, the Limberg Dam project is about more than overcoming construction challenges. It showcases engineering excellence at the highest level and makes a tangible contribution to sustainable, future-oriented energy production. The collaboration with the client VERBUND has been a strong success, with both partners working closely together to deliver this extraordinary project.

251006 Erhöhung Talsperre Limberg © Liebherr 13

Key Facts at a Glance

Built between 1938–1951, the dam stands at a crest elevation of 1,673 m above sea level. Its height is currently 120 m and will reach 128.7 m after raising. The crest length is 357 m, with a base thickness of 37 m and a crest thickness of 6 m. The original concrete volume amounts to 446,000 m³, and the water load is approximately 920,000 tons.

Wasserfallboden Reservoir

The reservoir currently has a capacity of 81.2 million m³. After raising, this will increase to 93.9 million m³—an increase of 12.7 million m³. The reservoir surface will expand by 5.7% (85,600 m²).

251006 Erhöhung Talsperre Limberg © Liebherr 3

Construction Crane

Some key facts about the construction crane:

Weight: 219 t
Hook heigth: 27.9 m
Jib length: 65 m
Lifting capacity: up to 20 t
Performance: up to 15 lifts per hour