Doka is supplying formwork and scaffolding solutions for the raising of the Wasserfallboden Dam in Kaprun, Austria. The project forms the foundation for the new Limberg III pumped-storage power plant, which will add 480MW of flexible capacity to the European grid.
By 2027, the dam – also known as the Limberg Dam – will be increased by 9m to a total height of almost 129m. This will expand the usable reservoir volume by 12.7 million cubic meters, reaching 93.9 million cubic meters. The additional storage will support the integration of variable renewable energy sources across the region.
Construction is taking place at 1700m asl, where sub-zero temperatures, wind speeds above 100 km/h, and complex transport logistics present major challenges. Doka’s systems are being used to ensure safe and efficient progress under these conditions. With 3D planning, pre-assembly and optimized logistics, concreting cycles have been accelerated to achieve about 260 m³ in three days.
The company’s Top 50 large-area formwork is being used to shape the curved dam blocks, while the D22 dam formwork provides load transfer. More than 700m of Folding Platform K create safe working conditions, and 22 tons of Ringlock modular scaffolding have been installed for stair towers and platforms at the control center. Doka is also supporting underground works for the Limberg III cavern, which was officially commissioned on September 12, 2025.
Limberg III is developed by VERBUND, Austria’s largest power producer, as part of a €500 million investment. It is the third pumped storage facility at Kaprun, following Limberg I (1950s) and Limberg II (2011). Together, the Kaprun units use the Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden reservoirs to act as large-scale energy storage. The additional reservoir capacity from the dam raise will provide about 30 GWh of storage, equal to the annual electricity use of 6,000 households.
“The Kaprun project highlights how Doka solutions contribute to the global energy transition. Here in Austria’s high-alpine environment, our technology and teams enable safe, efficient and reliable execution – even under the toughest conditions,” said Harald Zulehner, Managing Director.
