What makes Antarctica a good place to store energy?

A room full of classic lead-acid batteries enables the station to store energy for times when demands exceeds the current energy production. While the renewable energy systems that power the station are reliable and continuously checked, even in the harsh conditions of Antarctica, two generators were installed for security and backup.

How do wind and solar power contribute to the Antarctic Program?

Today, wind power and solar power both contribute to the Australian Antarctic Program’s energy needs. This content was last updated 4 years ago 16 November 2020. Harnessing natural energies can fuel our Antarctic stations and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Why did Antarctica have two generators?

While the renewable energy systems that power the station are reliable and continuously checked, even in the harsh conditions of Antarctica, two generators were installed for security and backup. They are also used to provide scheduled full load cycles which are part of the battery bank life performance.

How dangerous is transporting fuel to Antarctica?

Transporting fuel and oil to Antarctica is a costly and sometimes risky exercise. Before the introduction of renewable energy systems, Australian stations required 2.1 megalitres of diesel fuel every year for power and heating. Burning this fuel emitted around 5,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the Antarctic environment.

What is a hybrid energy system in Antarctica?

Many national Antarctic programmes (NAPs) have adopted hybrid systems combining fossil fuels and renewable energy sources, with a preference for solar or wind depending on the specific location of the research station and previous experiences with certain technologies.

Does Antarctica have a wind turbine?

Wind power in Antarctica - case histories of the north wind HR3 wind turbine. In Sodhi, D.S., ed. Cold Regions Engineering. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers, 765 – 771. Google Scholar