Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities
Abstract This paper tracks the progress of renewable energy deployment at Antarctic facilities, introducing an interactive database and map specifically created for this purpose. Goals, challenges and lessons learnt from these operations are also reported. The data and assessments presented are base...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2022
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410202200030x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410202200030X |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s095410202200030x 2024-06-23T07:46:58+00:00 Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities Lucci, Juan José Alegre, María Vigna, Leandro 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410202200030x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410202200030X en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Antarctic Science volume 34, issue 5, page 374-388 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 journal-article 2022 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s095410202200030x 2024-06-05T04:04:26Z Abstract This paper tracks the progress of renewable energy deployment at Antarctic facilities, introducing an interactive database and map specifically created for this purpose. Goals, challenges and lessons learnt from these operations are also reported. The data and assessments presented are based on a literature review of government reports, academic articles, online resources, news outlets and interviews conducted with personnel of Antarctic stations. As of 2021, 29 facilities have incorporated renewables in their energy systems, but only one permanent and four summer stations use renewables to meet more than 50% of their energy needs. Four main goals behind the development of renewable energy systems have been identified: fuel cost savings; reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions footprint in alignment with national decarbonization targets; electricity supply for scientific equipment during the winter months; and the development and/or testing of new technologies. The extreme weather conditions and complex logistics of Antarctica put both solar and wind systems under huge stress, which generates operational, technological and budgetary challenges that are also explored in this work. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica Cambridge University Press Antarctic Antarctic Science 1 15 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract This paper tracks the progress of renewable energy deployment at Antarctic facilities, introducing an interactive database and map specifically created for this purpose. Goals, challenges and lessons learnt from these operations are also reported. The data and assessments presented are based on a literature review of government reports, academic articles, online resources, news outlets and interviews conducted with personnel of Antarctic stations. As of 2021, 29 facilities have incorporated renewables in their energy systems, but only one permanent and four summer stations use renewables to meet more than 50% of their energy needs. Four main goals behind the development of renewable energy systems have been identified: fuel cost savings; reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions footprint in alignment with national decarbonization targets; electricity supply for scientific equipment during the winter months; and the development and/or testing of new technologies. The extreme weather conditions and complex logistics of Antarctica put both solar and wind systems under huge stress, which generates operational, technological and budgetary challenges that are also explored in this work. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lucci, Juan José Alegre, María Vigna, Leandro |
spellingShingle |
Lucci, Juan José Alegre, María Vigna, Leandro Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
author_facet |
Lucci, Juan José Alegre, María Vigna, Leandro |
author_sort |
Lucci, Juan José |
title |
Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
title_short |
Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
title_full |
Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
title_fullStr |
Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Renewables in Antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
title_sort |
renewables in antarctica: an assessment of progress to decarbonize the energy matrix of research facilities |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095410202200030x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S095410202200030X |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Science Antarctica |
op_source |
Antarctic Science volume 34, issue 5, page 374-388 ISSN 0954-1020 1365-2079 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s095410202200030x |
container_title |
Antarctic Science |
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1 |
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15 |
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1802649785134481408 |