Quezi

The challenging environment of Antarctica (photo by Georges Nijs CC-BY)

The world’s most southerly wind farm is to be found on Crater Hill, Ross Island, Antarctica. It consists of three 333kW turbines which will provide power to New Zealand’s Scott Base and McMurdo Sound, the American base. (Google Maps link)

Constructed by Meridian Energy during 2008/9, the turbines started a limited test operation with an output of 560 kW in December. On 16 January 2010 it was formerly opened by New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully and US Ambassador David Huebner via a video link from Auckland, New Zealand.

It is anticipated that after fine tuning and efficiency tests, full generation will commence before the onset of the harsh Antarctic winter.

The towers are placed on foundations made of eight 13-tonne pre-cast concrete blocks and were constructed in extremely challenging conditions, with the engineers having to wait for suitable weather windows for the delicate operation of lifting of the hub and blades. However, now they are mounted, the turbines are designed to withstand expected wind speeds of up to 205 km/h.

The construction of further turbines is planned. It is forecast that the wind farm will cut diesel use on the bases by 11% and will go some way towards lessening human impact on the pristine and fragile environment of Antarctica; and will make a small contribution towards reducing impact on the climate.