Green hydrogen: Base Esperanza tests sustainable energy production
A new laboratory module is currently being installed at the Argentinian Antarctic station Esperanza, which aims to produce green hydrogen soon and replace the diesel generators.
A project to produce green hydrogen is taking shape this summer in the Antarctic. Argentinian researchers have developed an experimental module that will not only produce hydrogen, but also serve as a green energy source for a research station. The laboratory module will be installed at the Argentinean research station Base Esperanza – located in Hope Bay in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula – and is intended to test the efficiency of the technology under extreme conditions.
The current energy supply for the Argentinian Antarctic stations is provided by generators, which consume considerable amounts of diesel fuel in summer: Each station consumes around 100,000 liters per season. The experimental module, which is based on a wind turbine and solar panels, could help to reduce energy consumption and minimize the transport of large quantities of diesel by ship and plane.
The solar modules only provide electricity in summer, but there is enough wind for the wind turbine all year round. The electricity generated is used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis. The surplus electricity is used to supply a neighbouring scientific laboratory with electrical energy. This not only produces green hydrogen, but also ensures the energy supply for the research facility.
Chemist María José Lavorante is leading the sub-project dealing with the production of green hydrogen from electrolysis at Argentina’s Citedef (Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa – Scientific and Technical Research Institute for Defense). She emphasized to the news agency Télam the importance of the project for the development of a sustainable laboratory. The system is based on alkaline technology, and around 95% of the components were developed by Citedef which has been researching hydrogen production through electrolysis since 2008.
Lavorante explained that the volume of hydrogen produced to date is sufficient to operate a standard 500 W fuel cell. The modular nature of the system makes it possible to connect several cells (modules) in series or in parallel and increase hydrogen production.
“The surplus energy will be used to produce low-emission hydrogen. For this purpose, an electrolysis device will be designed, built and characterized that will allow us to move from technological maturity level 4 to 5, i.e. the validation of the components and/or their disposal in a relevant environment such as Antarctica,” Lavorante said.
Besides Argentina, Chile and New Zealand are also looking into green hydrogen energy production at their Antarctic stations.
Julia Hager, PolarJournal
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