The polar scale-up new energy system primarily developed by Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi province was inaugurated at the Antarctic Qinling Station on March 1.

The new energy system is the world's first large-scale clean energy system in the extreme Antarctic environment and a symbol of China's achievements in environmentally-friendly scientific exploration in the polar energy sector.

It boasts a combined capacity of 200 kilowatts from solar and wind power, constituting 60 percent of the total power generation at the Qinling Station. Additionally, hydrogen energy is utilized for long-term storage, ensuring energy supply for up to 180 days of continuous daylight or darkness. 

The "water droplet-shaped" wind turbine tailored for the Antarctic environment. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

In the absence of wind and sunlight, the system can provide approximately 2.5 hours of power at a maximum load of 150 kW, using short-term pure green energy to ensure that scientific research equipment and essential facilities can operate normally.

In November 2023, the "Wind-Solar-Hydrogen-Storage-Load" new energy system at the Antarctic Qinling Station was approved, with Professor Sun Hongbin, president of Taiyuan University of Technology, serving as the project's chief scientist.

From March to July 2024, Taiyuan University of Technology led a collaborative effort with research personnel from the 18th Research Institute of China Electronic Technology Group Corporation, Tsinghua University, China Huaneng Group Co, and other entities to design and develop a "water droplet-shaped" wind turbine tailored for the Antarctic environment, meaning it is highly resistant to extreme cold and strong winds.

To ensure the new energy system's functionality in the harsh Antarctic conditions, Taiyuan University of Technology also established a laboratory during the research and development phase to simulate the extreme Antarctic environment, effectively addressing challenges in research, testing, and maintenance.