Wind turbines blow cold
16 Feb 2009
Eight wind turbines in Antarctica are withstanding temperatures of -60°C and winds of more than 90m/s. Proven Energy, a Scottish-based small wind turbine manufacturer, supplied the 6kW wind turbines to Princess Elisabeth Station, which was officially inau
Antartica - Eight wind turbines in Antarctica are withstanding temperatures of -60°C and winds of more than 90m/s. Proven Energy, a Scottish-based small wind turbine manufacturer, supplied the 6kW wind turbines to Princess Elisabeth Station, which was officially inaugurated in Antarctica on 15 Feb 2009.
The turbines will be operating in average winds of 53mph and winter gusts of more than 200mph, while still providing 230V electricity for the station’s heating, computers, lights and scientific instruments. This station is the only polar base operating entirely on renewable energies.
Most stations rely on diesel generators because no wind turbines, until now, were thought to be robust enough for such extreme conditions.
