Ecological cottage under Mont Blanc

The ecological hut below the peak of Mont Blanc operates thanks to the sun and plant oil

How do climbers spend the night on the highest mountain in Europe? Climbing the 4,810-meter-high Mont Blanc is no easy feat. A series of shelters are prepared for climbers, one of the most unique being located at an altitude of 3,835 meters. This impressive building, called Refuge du Goûter, is entirely ecological and self-sufficient, situated in a protected natural area. The hut has successfully met safety regulations, and it was opened to the public a few days ago. It operates with the help of the sun and also uses plant oil (as one of the energy sources) through a solution from Schneider Electric. Over the past three years, it has undergone a complete reconstruction and has now fully reopened.
The exceptional building required an investment of 6.5 million euros (approximately 169 million crowns). The new Refuge du Goûter was built 300 meters from the original hut, which was no longer adequate and will now be carefully dismantled. “The challenging project is equipped with intelligent technologies to meet stringent criteria for independence and environmental protection,” explained Guy Dufraisse, president of the French branch of Schneider Electric, which is a global leader in energy-saving technologies. Moreover, it is the main patron of the Refuge du Goûter project.
How does the hut, which accommodates 120 climbers in summer and 20 in winter, operate? Photovoltaic panels and cogeneration units powered, among other things, by plant oil have been installed. Thanks to these sources, the hybrid Xantrex XW system (in off-grid mode), in so-called island mode, produces electricity and allows the facility to operate independently. The hut also utilizes special management software called EcoStruxure, which facilitates monitoring and controlling the production of electricity from individual sources. It also keeps track of electricity consumption.
“The Refuge du Goûter project was technically very demanding. The building is located in a relatively dangerous place where wind speeds exceed 300 km/h and temperatures are very low. The hut is essentially cut off from the world – for more than half of the year it is inaccessible. Therefore, remote monitoring logically became the most suitable solution. Only through this can it be ensured that the staff are not unpleasantly surprised in spring when they arrive at a frozen hut without electricity,” Dufraisse revealed why the hut doesn’t need a permanent caretaker.

Altitude: 3,835 meters
Capacity: 120 people in summer, 20 people in winter
Technologies used: Photovoltaic panels and cogeneration units powered by gasoline and plant oil produce electricity managed by the off-grid (island) Xantrex XW system and remotely controlled by EcoStruxure management software.