Belgium Unveils Solar-Powered Climate Research Station
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09.12.07
It's been a long time in the making (see earlier stories about here and here), but the Belgium-based International Polar Foundation has finally taken the wraps off its climate change research station - the Princess Elisabeth - which will be the world's first zero-emissions polar science facility. The station, which will become home to 20 researchers, will be assembled on a ridge several miles north of the Soer Rondane Mountains.
Harnessing the power of both the wind and the sun, the prefabricated station will be completely energy self-sufficient when it is installed in the South Pole later this month. It will allow researchers to study the effects of climate change - specifically, on the deep ice shelves - without creating a large carbon footprint. To accomplish this, the builders first covered the station's roof with solar panels that will supply the brunt of the scientists' energy needs; the rest will be supplied by 8 6-kW wind turbines.
The station's designers hope that the Princess Elisabeth will serve as a blueprint for future research stations in Antarctica. "Every ton of fuel you have to bring there costs a ton of money, and it is really a very difficult process. By building a zero emissions station ... you won't need that any more, so that's healthy," said Johan Berte, the lead designer.
It will join a network of stations already on the ground operated by scientists from Russia and Japan. So what challenge now remains? According to Berte, it's mostly logistics at this point: "The biggest challenge will be to unload on the Antarctic continent."
Via ::Associated Press: Solar-powered Antarctic climate base unveiled (news website)
See also: ::Lots of Wind in Antarctica; Now There Are Turbines, ::Polar Solar From Belgium For Antarctica
Image courtesy of Geert Vanden Wijngaert
This is probably born out of necessity more than environmental impact. The cost of importing energy would be greater than the sustainable design. A situation we all may face one day.