nuclear-news

Renewable energy in use in Antarctica

Mawson Station has two turbines that provide more than 70 percent of its power needs. It should be noted, as the NREL explained, that often the combination of these two technologies is important. “Like many places, generating large amounts of renewable power in Antarctica with a single technology is unlikely. Fortunately, polar winds blow during the winter months when the sun does not shine.”

Clean Energy A Big Deal In Antarctica | EarthTechling by Nino Marchetti, July 19th, 2010“……….There seems to actually be quite a bit of renewable energy usage going on in Antarctica, according to the NREL. Examples include a 1 megawatt wind farm McMurdo Station shares with nearby New Zealanders on Scott Base and a new wind farm between the outposts on Ross Island’s Crater Hill that, during one recent high wind period, “demonstrated that more than 70 percent of McMurdo’s energy needs could be” generated. Also, further inland at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, both solar and wind power sources are being experimented with.Other nations also making using of renewable power include Belgium, which was said to to have the first outpost entirely operated on renewable power starting last year, and Australia, whose Mawson Station has two turbines that provide more than 70 percent of its power needs. It should be noted, as the NREL explained, that often the combination of these two technologies is important. “Like many places, generating large amounts of renewable power in Antarctica with a single technology is unlikely. Fortunately, polar winds blow during the winter months when the sun does not shine.”

Clean Energy A Big Deal In Antarctica | EarthTechling

July 20, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | ANTARCTICA, renewable