Presentation of the project
The Belgian Federal Government has commissioned the International Polar Foundation, founded by Alain Hubert and Professors André Berger (UCL) and Hugo Decleir (VUB), to build a new research station, the "Princess Elisabeth" Station. The station was built over a 5 years period and very officially inaugurated on the 15th of February 2009.
Technology & Ingenuity
For this project, known building technologies, renewable energy and water treatment technologies have been seamlessly integrated into a structure and an operating system that is reminiscent of a living organism.
Several internationally renowned companies have joined the project to create real and vibrant partnerships which have advanced in a fruitful collaboration and knowledge sharing exercise. The role of the private sector in supporting this project and the public enthusiasm which has accompanied every phase in the process has greatly motivated the team to make a real difference.
This project takes us in the right direction with regard to the need for rethinking the future in the face of climate change. Princess Elisabeth is the first “zero emission” facility in Antarctica, at the beginning of an era in which the rising cost of fuel has begun to seriously endanger future research activities. The Princess Elisabeth station shows that the climate challenge is not insurmountable where there is goodwill and collaboration between peoples, sectors and countries.
Ambitious
Subject to extreme conditions, and faced with monumental logistical challenges related to transporting building materials to the Antarctic interior, the Princess Elisabeth station achieves high standards for functionality, safety and minimum environmental impact.
Pioneering
The Princess Elisabeth station is a first in many respects. The advanced design methodology, including analysing the day-to-day requirements and needs of the research teams, the balance of new and proven technologies installed in the station, the intelligent integration to achieve the “zero emission” target, the private sector involvement in the financing, and the private/public partnership for future operations, are all innovative aspects which open up new possibilities for designing polar research stations of the future.