La Antarctica also known as the white continent is an environmentally very fragile and valuable place. In it we find bases from all over the world where each one of them develops different scientific activities.
Life in Antarctica is complicated, but hundreds of people spend significant periods there, so they require certain comforts to cope with the difficult weather conditions.
All bases have defined protocols and strategies to avoid producing the least environmental impact possible and alter the ecosystem.
Some scientific bases already use renewable energies such as Belgium, which is the first to have zero emissions since solar panels and windmills were installed to generate clean energy. This system allows to produce electricity and hot water sustainably in sufficient quantity to supply all the requirements of the base. They also accumulate energy to be able to use it in the 6 months of the dark period where the sun is not seen.
Another example of the use of renewable energy in Antarctica is the installation of the first wind farm in this wonderful place.
The facility is located on Ross Island, which will have 3 turbines that will produce 1 Mega watt, allowing it to supply around 11% of the New Zealand base and the McMurdo station in the United States.
Using this wind energy will save approximately 122.000 liters of fossil fuel.
It is required that all over the world to replace fuels and petroleum derivatives but even more so in a place like Antarctica that is so delicate. These projects will surely be imitated by other bases to reduce their environmental impact.
Renewable energies are gradually reaching more and more remote places and with complex climatic conditions, but thanks to technology it is possible to take advantage of the resources that are available to produce Energy.
Achieve independence from oil In Antarctica it is possible but the change will take a little time, although the process has already begun as these two examples show.
SOURCE: Gstriatum