In search of the zero-emission continent: Can efforts to make Antarctic research stations energy self-sufficient work?

摘要

THE ARGUMENTS that are usually made to support the use of clean, renewable energy sources in more 'normal' continents apply also to Antarctica. In fact, when it comes to the coldest, windiest, highest, driest and remotest continent on Earth, the same arguments are considerably amplified. If locally sourced renewable energy can help bring down the cost of power generation in areas where fossil fuel is easily accessible, in Antarctica (where diesel can only be delivered during the summer, typically once a year via long and tricky icebreaker journeys), the cost advantages of going green are all the more evident.