China promotes the rapid transition of Antarctic exploration into the era of green energy.

创建于04.27

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 16 (Reporter Zhou Yuan, Huang Tao Ming) Sun Hongbin, chief scientist of the Polar Clean Energy at the China Polar Research Center and president of Taiyuan University of Technology, stated that with the commissioning of the first large-scale new energy system at China's Antarctic Qinling Station and the release of the "12-Year Development Outline for Antarctic Clean Energy Utilization Technology," Chinese technology and concepts are rapidly driving Antarctic expeditions into the era of green energy.

“How to achieve a clean energy transition in Antarctica is an important topic for the global scientific community.” Sun Hongbin said at the launch meeting of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' consulting evaluation project “Technological Support Strategy for Antarctic Protection and Sustainable Use” held recently, that more than 90 research stations and camps have been established in Antarctica by various countries, and the total energy consumption is continuously rising, with fuel consumption accounting for over 90%. The pollutants and carbon emissions generated by scientific research are increasing year by year.

Sun Hongbin introduced that China is the first to implement the green inspection initiative. For example, the Antarctic Qinling Station launched a new energy system in March this year, with the proportion of clean energy reaching over 60%. In the absence of wind and light, it can provide approximately 2.5 hours of power supply for the station area, ensuring the short-term pure green operation of the research equipment and basic living facilities at the inspection station. This also marks a breakthrough for China in key technologies for polar energy equipment and systems.

In addition, the "Twelve-Year Development Outline for Clean Energy Utilization Technology in Antarctica," compiled by the China Polar Research Center, Taiyuan University of Technology, and others, sets 2025, 2030, and 2035 as important time nodes, delineating a development path of "three steps" for the preliminary transformation period, accelerated promotion period, and consolidation and improvement period. This provides directional guidance for the research and development of key technologies in Antarctic clean energy equipment, systems, and operations and maintenance, laying the foundation for China to take the lead in establishing a clean energy supply system for scientific exploration in Antarctica.

The former chairman of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research and chairman of the Korea National Polar Research Institute, Kim Il-dong, told reporters that in response to the clean energy needs of Antarctic research stations, China is focusing on technological breakthroughs in extreme cold environments. By promoting the application of new energy equipment such as solar, wind, and hydrogen energy in phases, and combining modern information technology to enhance energy efficiency, China aims to systematically address the challenges of stable energy supply in polar regions, providing a feasible path for the low-carbon operation of research stations. This initiative not only responds to the global consensus on environmental protection but also contributes a Chinese solution to the energy transition in Antarctic research.