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I came across this case, which isn't an "unpersönliches Es" because you can't omit it when changing the sentence structure.
Mit dem Auto sind es nur 15 Minuten nach Innsbruck.
What's the reason for using "es" sind when you talk about time like hours and minutes?
Because it is the subject of the sentence. Bis Innsbruck dauert es nur 15 Minuten. (Now, it is not the subject anymore, and the conjugation changes)
Edit: To answer the comment. I guess, I didn't explain it well.
Mit dem Auto sind es nur 15 Minuten nach Innsbruck. In this sentence, "15 Minuten" is the subject. Many German students have problems identifying the subject, but it is actually pretty easy.
As we can see, the verb is conjugated in the 3rd person plural: Mit dem Auto sind es nur 15 Minuten nach Innsbruck.
If I change it to the 3rd person singular, it is: Mit dem Auto ist es nur 1 Minute nach Innsbruck.
Only the subject is "allowed" to change the verb conjugation.
In my other example, the conjugation doesn't change:
Bis Innsbruck dauert es nur 15 Minuten. Bis Innsbruck dauert es nur 1 Minute.
In both sentences with "dauert", "es" is the subject.
