Assessment of green power production in Antarctica

• Main Author: Hallgren, Christoffer
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: ARIANNA; MERRA; Antarctica; wind power; wind energy; solar energy; katabatic winds; Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences; Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning; Amundsen-Scott; Antarctic; Merra; Ross Ice Shelf; Antarc*; Ice Shelf
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-341702

Traditionally, fossil fuels have been the energy source to power research stations in Antarctica. With increasing awareness of climate change and local environmental effects associated with use of fossil fuels, the demand for replacement green energy power supply have increased rapidly. In this article, the potential for wind and solar power in Antarctica is assessed. The study is based on 34 years of reanalysis data from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) focusing on the location for the experiment ARIANNA (Antarctic Ross Ice-Shelf Antenna Neutrino Array). Results are compared with the stations Mawson and Princess Elisabeth, where wind and solar power already is operational, and with the Amundsen-Scott station. The average wind speed for the ARIANNA site is around 7.5 m/s during winter and 6.0 m/s during summer. Comparing with Princess Elisabeth, the average wind speed is approximately 5 m/s lower. The generally low wind speeds at the ARIANNA site suggest that wind turbines with a low cut-in speed should be used. The strong influence from katabatic winds make wind direction persistent, which is preferable. The potential for solar power production at ARIANNA is expected to be 10% lower comparing with Princess Elisabeth. Work done as a continuation of the Master project reported in: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-200001 Astroparticle physics instrumentation in Antarctica