Solar energy utilization in overall energy budget of the Johann Gregor Mendel Antarctic station during austral summer season

• Main Author: Wolf, Petr
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Masaryk Univerzity 2015
• Subjects: J. G. Mendel Station; photovoltaics; hybrid PV system; Antarctica; Antarctic; Austral; Ross Island; Antarc*; James Ross Island
• Online Access: http://journals.muni.cz/CPR/article/view/12861

It is well known that the utilization of renewable energy sources is inevitable for a sustainable future. Besides the fact that other energy sources such as coal, gas or nuclear power have limited reserves the proper use of increasingly higher shares of renewable energy sources may lower negative impacts of traditional energy sources on the ecosystems. This is especially important in naturally protected areas located in remote Earth locations. Such areas are still almost untouched by mankind, e.g. Antarctica. The research activities in the area of renewable energy sources have increased rapidly within the last few decades. It is of a global interest to carry out the research in an ecologically sensitive way, i.e. balance the outputs and the effects of infrastructure on environment. In this paper, a project of installation of a photovoltaic system on the Czech Antarctic Station (Johann Gregor Mendel) on the James Ross Island is described and the first experience from the system run is reported. The contribution of this system to the overall energy production on this station shortly after commissioning of the system is presented as well. In discussion, a possible future development of the system is suggested.