Renewable Energy’s Potential At The South Pole: Cutting Costs And Enhancing Research

At the bottom of the world, there’s a unique opportunity to demonstrate the importance and reliability of renewable energy. Researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory have explored how combining solar modules, wind turbines, and battery storage can provide a cost-effective way to enhance research at the South Pole while significantly cutting costs. This shift away from specially formulated diesel fuel comes as scientists prepare for future experiments.

Amy Bender, a physicist at Argonne overseeing the South Pole Telescope systems’ infrastructure, explained that power is a limited resource at the South Pole. Currently, diesel fuel, shipped to Antarctica and then flown or trucked to the South Pole, provides almost all the necessary power. This is an expensive process that could be mitigated by using wind and solar energy. Bender noted that while the National Science Foundation (NSF), which operates the research stations, has managed to supply fuel efficiently, it remains a significant challenge.

Bender, who has spent around a year at the South Pole over several summers, coauthored a recent paper on the economics and feasibility of using renewable energy there. The NSF has previously examined renewables, testing solar panels in 2000 and wind turbines five years later. Both technologies proved they could operate in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. The NSF’s draft master plan for the South Pole Station now recommends on-site testing of current renewable energy technologies to assess their suitability.

Ian Baring-Gould, Wind Technology Deployment manager at NREL and coauthor of the paper, confirmed that based on research, wind turbines can operate down to negative 70 degrees Celsius. Similarly, solar modules, although not typically used in such extreme cold, can function effectively there. In 2009, New Zealand deployed three wind turbines, providing electricity to its Scott Base and the United States’ McMurdo Station, about 850 miles from the South Pole.

The researchers then examined the economics. The cost of diesel fuel has increased significantly since a 2005 study, making renewables more attractive. The new paper calculated the levelized cost of energy for diesel at $4.09 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared to 33 cents for wind and 23 cents for solar.

Using NREL’s Renewable Energy Integration and Optimization (REopt) tool, the researchers identified the least-cost scenario to supply a consistent 170 kW of power for new research equipment at the South Pole. This scenario involves a hybrid system with six wind turbines, 180 kW of solar, and 3.4 megawatt-hours of battery storage. This combination reduces diesel consumption by 96%, cutting the need for fuel transport and reducing environmental damage. Over 15 years, the savings from reduced diesel use could reach $57 million, with the $10 million investment in renewables recouped in about two years.

Nate Blair, a coauthor and group manager at NREL, noted that as the research stations expand, the current system may struggle with additional loads. One significant project is the South Pole Telescope, designed to measure the cosmic microwave background, the light from 380,000 years after the Big Bang. The telescope’s location at the South Pole is ideal because the cold, dry air provides a clear view of these tiny wavelengths.

Baring-Gould stated that there’s no technological barrier to using renewables at the South Pole, although additional work is needed to ensure success. Solar panels need to avoid snow accumulation, and wind turbines must be anchored in ice, which hasn’t been attempted on this scale before. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that renewables are a viable option wherever diesel is used, even in the extreme conditions of the South Pole.