The Opening of the BELARE 2025–26 Season

As the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station awakened from its long winter slumber, the BELARE team got straight to work. After months of snow accumulation, the station was almost entirely buried, marking the first big challenge of the season. Using powerful tractors and excavators, the crew began clearing the deep layers of snow, gradually reopening access to the station’s annexes and garages.

One of the top priorities was uncovering the solar panels—essential for powering the world’s first zero-emission polar research station. With the sun now shining around the clock, every panel brought the station one step closer to full operational capacity.

Next, the team leveled the terrace with precision laser guidance, preparing the area for vehicle circulation and the placement of waste containers and mobile science units. From above, the newly prepared terrace shows the scale of the operation as containers and equipment are positioned for the busy summer season.

After several days of coordinated work, the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station finally emerged snow-free and ready for action. With all systems coming back online, the BELARE 2025–26 season is officially underway.