China's Antarctic station powered by new energy

China is the first country to implement hydrogen energy in the extreme environment of Antarctica on a large scale, said Dou Yinke, dean of the Taiyuan university's College of Electrical and Power Engineering, and a leading expert who has participated in multiple Antarctic expeditions since 2004.

Against the backdrop of global warming and glacier melting, China proposed the concept of "green exploration" in 2017, Dou said. International organizations have repeatedly urged countries to transition from fuel-based power generation to clean energy in Antarctica.

As Antarctica possesses vast wind and solar energy potential, countries worldwide have been exploring clean energy in this area.

To date, approximately 30 Antarctic research stations have installed clean energy generation devices, with over half utilizing solar or wind, Dou said.

However, due to the lack of systematic application and development of clean energy technologies tailored to the Antarctic environment, these systems cannot yet fully replace traditional energy systems on the aspects of safety and stability, he said.

Currently, 80 to 90 percent of the world's Antarctic research stations still rely on fuel-powered electricity generation, leading to significant environmental pollution in the polar regions, said Dou.

Last year, the Taiyuan university led the formulation of the "Twelve-Year Development Outline for Clean Energy Utilization Technologies in the Antarctic", aiming to establish a comprehensive clean energy supply system for Antarctic research stations by 2035.

"I will dedicate my whole life to the cause. I believe we have just taken the first step on a long journey. It is a demonstration and an experiment," Sun said. Key technology breakthroughs can also drive the energy revolution in the province, a major energy base in China, said Sun.

Sun hopes to establish a 20,000-square-meter Antarctic extreme environment simulation laboratory in Shanxi to enhance future research.

"With clean energy, people can survive in polar regions. In the future, we may even install and test this technology on the moon and Mars," Sun said.

Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn