The world’s southern-most continent received its largest wind farm, powering antarctic stations Scott Base from New Zealand and the US McMurdo Station. The farm has three wind turbines, whereas Antarctica’s only other wind farm at Australia’s Mawson Station, only has two.
The farm sits on the base of Crater Hill, which is on the tip of Ross Island. The three wind turbines will take place of the base’s generators and will reportedly cut cost by 11%, saving 122 gallons of fuel. These specific turbines have been specifically engineered to endure the cold (temperatures can drop to as low as -76 Fahrenheit), and they tried to avoid using as many moving parts as possible; hence, these turbines do not have gearboxes.
Depending on how well these turbines perform, Scott Base and McMurdo Station that this wind farm very well could be the start of many.
Filed Under: Featured, Turbines
it is a misconception that windturbines are unreliable as every year new milestones are reached in production and output at a fraction of the cost from conventional plants. what the contry could really use is a network of HVDC transmission system to move the electricity around high density areas more efficiently with less losses
Hey TJ, it WASN’T RENEWABLES WHICH CAUSED TEXAS’ PROBLEMS – seriously, do you even Google,bitch?
Guess you missed the part where the article stated that these wind turbines were specially made to work in Antarctica.
Totally different from the wind turbines THAT FROZE in Texas
Texas Governor Abbott, is saying that the power outages that are being experienced in this stretch of frigid weather in Texas is due to the emphasis placed on renewable energy – especially wind power; and that the country will experience similar problems by its reliance on wind and solar power. There has to be pushback on this type of misinformation.
I think wind power is fascinating. I-55 in illinois is one that is quite large. Heading South on I-74 is another one. As a gas turbine Navy veteran, I love the idea of using what this world gives us.