Special Report Part 2- When mountain stakeholders commit
Following the first part of this special report published last June 23rd, this second part aims to present some innovations of other professional stakeholders who also take the path of sustainable development in mountains areas. Various subjects will be broached such as the boom of 4 seasons tourism, renewable energies and the prevention of natural risks. Finally, you will discover three original and sustainable products adapted to the mountain environment.
The growth of 4 seasons Tourism
Bike Solutions
Bike Solutions designs and install 4 seasons biking trails, accessible to everyone, in France and abroad.
From technical and touristic engineering of bike parks to their creation, the idea is to offer leisure and secured trails to bikers, integrated into the landscape with an adapted signage.
The company is one of the three winners selected for the Cluster Montagne awards ceremony. Yannick Menneron, its director, won the “International Trophy Mountain”, “the greatest export success of 2015” for the 4 seasons mountain bike park accessible to everyone in Norway, Trysil.
Opened in October 2015, these downhill biking trails hutling down Trysilfjell slopes was a technical challenge to build, with a lot of water, marshy and rocky ground. When soil was missing, Bike Solutions reorganised the rocks around. We can say that Yannick Menneron and his team succeeded in converting this outdoor sport to a real development vector of year-round tourism.
Neveplast
Niccolo Bertocchi présente un élément NeveplastNeveplast’s concept, which is an Italian company, is simple : to install artificial slopes or slopes parts allowing to ski in every seasons and anywhere.
With or without snow, assembled plastic squares are provided with large holes on their surface reducing their print on the ground and letting grass grow through. « City, valley or mountain, the 4 seasons slopes we conceive can be installed anywhere. Sledging, tubing or skis, their uses are diversified in order to propose our customers and users sustainable or temporary activities » affirms Niccolo Bertocchi, sales manager of Neveplast.
« Sensations are the same than on snow, we easily turn and brake » he precises.
Neveplast’s slopes have a special interest because it encourages young urban people to come and discover skiing, even in town, what could persuade them more easily to offer themselves mountain holidays later. Other advantages of the concept consists in securing skiing activity for mountain resorts in case of lack of snow, or simply to offer their visitors a varied panel of board and winter sports.
The renewable energy boom
Dalkia
As a subsidiary of EDF, Dalkia qualifies itself as a « producer of energy efficiency » and accompanies its customers to develop and manage innovative and sustainable energy solutions.
Local authorities, industries, tertiary sector and accomodations owners can benefit from Dalkia’s acquired expertise from 80 years concerning energy efficiency improvement of buildings or promotion of renewable energies. Biomass, photovoltaic and thermal solar energy, biogas or geotherrmal, choice is varied to meet energy savings needs.
Renewable energies represent 26% out of the energy mix proposed by Dalkia and, accordding to its goals, this part tends to rise up. It manages many installations, including in mountain and valley areas.
Also at Mountain Planet, Dalkia was represented by its Mountain development manager, Franck Egidio. He explained the measured advantages resulting from installation of a biogaz heating network in Aquariaz aquatic center, in Avoriaz. Since its opening in 2012, it allows to heat 11 residences in the ski resort and 1 000 tones of CO2 have been saved. Being fuelled with wood pellets with a 2000 kW power and storage on site, the wood boiler is minimum 10 days self-sufficient.
Thanks to this energy model, 80% of heating needs are provided by the wood boiler. Wood pellets are generally locally produced or bought, allowing development of a local and circular economy, which represents one of sustainable development aims. Moreover, analysts and technicians from the DESC®, Dalkia Energy Savings Center, Center can follow buildings consumption that they manage by distance and intervene in case of consumption peak to regulate it.
Powidian
Powidian is an Airbus spin-off. Winner of the COP21 Trophy in last December, they conceive and install self-sufficient stations for non-polluting and smart electricity production.
These stations can therefore supply isolated sites, like in mountain areas. Any production source of renewable energy is accepted and various forms of short-term and long-term storage are integrated, including hydrogen. They are controlled by software ensuring their secure remote management. A maintenance visit is expected once a year and the stations are conceived to last at least 15 years.
In 2015, the National natural Park of Vanoise (North Alps) chose Powidian to install a world first : a photovoltaic energy station with hydrogen storage system in the mountain hut of Col du Palet, 2600 meters high, in order to make it self-sufficient.
EDF showed their interest for Powidian solution by ordering a station to supply an isolated village in La Reunion Island.
« Our stations can satisfy electric needs from 100 Watts to more than 500 kW. Nevertheless modular, several solutions can be added and increase the production and consumption capacity of the site » precises Bertrand Chapuis, France, Africa and French-speaking countries Sales Director of Powidian.
Towards a sustainable prevention of natural hazards ?
Geotechnical engineering of natural and seismic hazards, geophysics, mountain planning, photogrammetry by drone, are the main activity fields in which IMSRN can intervene.
With 12 offices including 9 in France and 1 in Algeria, they offer multiple services as close as possible to their customers. For example, expertise and stabilization work face to landslides, rock falls, torrential floods and floods or multi-risk hazard mapping of a site or a territory.
Especially for a site that is having problems of landslides and rock falls, the IMSRN proposes a protection study against these events, a diagnosis of emergency protective measures and risks modeling in 3D. The company can also design reinforcement solutions such as terracing rocky environment, unstable mass surveillance systems and support the project management.
Concerning Research, the IMSRN is developing new innovative 3D modeling and photogrammetry softwares.
Catex Montaz
Natural hazards prevention like avalanches, in ski resorts as upstream of frequented roads, is the core business of Montaz Equipement.
Specialised in remote triggered avalanches by explosion, the Savoie company is as such already a stakeholder of sustainable development in mountain areas, helping municipalities and resorts directors to reduce natural hazards on their territory . Besides, « Catex®, even if it uses explosive materials, does not leave any residue behind it, it does not release any CO2 and its energy consumption is very low » explains Nicolas Marie, sales director of the family company. « Concerning sustainable development, we always adapt to our customers requirements. For instance, in Sarenne sector, Alpe d’Huez, we have taken ten old ski lifts pylons from Jeux and Rif Nel to build the Catex of Chateau noir- Pierre Grosse. This method allows to recycle old pylons and save time and CO2 because transport and safety standards bringing up is locally carried out » he adds.
Innovative eco-friendly products
Mako by Amroc Concept
Marc Girard, CEO of Concept AMROC, invented and developed a range of Mako#, very original multi-purpose and all-terrain shelters, especially for isolated sites.
Mako on snow Design Mako © Mako
Their design is based on four key features : lightweight for mobility, strength and comfort to tolerate the hostile mountain environment in all seasons, flexibility and compactness. Their uses vary according to needs: timing booth, information point, storage, lifts controls, toilets … or mountain hut !
This is the latest “accommodation” version of AMROC Concept : Mako# Dodo, a small mobile shelter, which is currently the subject of a 5 units order for clients located in the Vercors. This range of innovative mobile accommodation is part of a strong environmental approach, limiting the impact on its location and offering a total energy independence while promoting local wood industry. In addition, its summer/winter reversibility allows it to offer a year-round service for the development of 4 seasons tourism.
MAKO EcoLodge XL – Designed By Mako
As a touristic accommodation, Mako# Dodo is not only an alternative to the traditional hotel room. In a logic of immersive experience with the surrounding landscapes, this mobile shelter may well be associated with a range of local services, a mountain restaurant for example, to make the experience even more memorable. Especially in mountain areas, the Mako# Dodo represents an excellent tourism development tool allowing to discover territories by an unusual way.
No impact on the environment in a unique scenery, an “eco-logical” design with maximum comfort, the Mako Dodo# indubitably is an innovative and educational product favouring sustainable and responsible tourism !
Sanisphère
For 25 years, Sansiphere conceives and sales ecological dry toilet systems which are 100% self-sufficient, adaptable to any climate, number of visits and altitude.
From 2005, Sanisphere carries out a real technological breakthrough conceiving vermicomposting dry toilets. The new system has the advantage of reducing maintenance obligations to only once a year. But above all, the total absence of smell is made possible thanks, by 80%, to the separation between faecal matters and urine, and by 20% to an optimal ventilation. Indeed, indoor air of the machine room, heated with day light, is vacuumed up by the toilet bowl and goes out by a chimney, which is high enough to avoid inside as outside inconveniences.
Evacuation is done using a pedal, therefore water is not necessary. After 5 to 15 years, faecal matters are transformed into compost thanks to specialised earthworms Aesenia Faetida. This vermicomposting process allows intensive use of dry toilets, as on motorway service areas, and with comfort ! Electricity is not needed for daytime uses since the cabin, built in natural wood, has two polycarbonate windows letting natural light go through. Nevertheless, adaptation to nocturnal uses is also possible and customizable.
Pic Bois
Winner of the Efficient Mountain Trophy as “best economic, social and environmental performance in 2015”, awarded by the Cluster Montagne in last April, Pic Bois conceives, manufactures and installs tourist signage and leisure furniture.
Information panel Création Picbois
In addition to graphic design, the company offers four marking techniques : inclusion by vitrification, enamelling, direct printing and digital printing, all manufactured in France. Several engraving techniques are also possible : by micro engraving (in hollow), in single line or in 3D. Relief engraving with grainy background is the unique patented process of Pic Bois. Wishing to meet the demands of its clients in environmental matters, Pic Bois workshops are ISO 14001 certified. Indeed, two of them host a large capacity solar farm and a wood chip boiler, in order to recycle wood scraps.
As a bonus, acting as a real eco-business, signage and wooden furnitures are PEFC certified, which means « Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification » and favours forests sustainable management.