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Antarctica’s first zero emission research station

The Princess Elisabeth research base is based in the most remote and inhospitable place on Earth – Antarctica. But: It is a zero-emission base that uses 100% renewable energy supplied by the sun, the wind and the water since 2008.

“Every piece of electrical equipment runs on renewable energy. Even my hair dryer is powered by the almost constant Antarctic winds and summer daylight”, said Kate Winter, Research Fellow of Antarctic Science, Northumbria University, Newcastle in “The Conversation“, after she recently visited the research base.

“When I asked Alain Hubert, the expedition leader, why he wanted to build a zero-emission base in Antarctica, he said that if we can do it here, we can show the world that it can be done anywhere.”

Sustainable living is possible – even in the most remote place

“Solar panels have to be mounted high above the snow-covered ground to capture the 24 hours of daylight during the austral summer. Wind turbines are drilled into the granite ridge beneath the snow and ice”, she continued. “Renewable energy sources melt snow for water, which is filtered and reused on site to reduce waste.”

Kate Winter will return to the base in January 2020. “By then, working there will become even more sustainable with new electric-powered snowmobiles.”

Image: © International Polar Foundation

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Written by Sonja

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