The First "Zero Emission" Station

Unique in its design and construction, the Princess Elisabeth Station is the only polar research facility to have been conceived and built to operate entirely on renewable energies. Wind power is thus used solely to supply the station with electricity, while solar power provides both electricity (photovoltaic solar panels) and hot water (thermal solar panels), allowing the station to function with zero carbon emission.

Energy production: 22 m2 thermal solar panels (12%) - 380 m2 photovoltaic solar panels (40%) - 9 wind turbines (48%)

Such an environmentally-friendly station is the fruit of the designers’ meticulous study of how occupants would live in and around the station. The main structure of the station consists in concentric layers surrounding a central technical core, which holds the water treatment units, ventilation and control systems, and batteries for energy storage. Around this core are three concentric layers: the station’s active systems (kitchen and laundry rooms), the external areas (living and sleeping rooms), and the heavily insulated, multi-layered outer walls of the station.

Zero Emission Concept

The station, designed according to a “zero emission” concept, integrates passive building design with renewable energy sources run through a smart grid with a programmable logic circuit (PLC) to manage the use of energy in the station. Any excess energy is stored in batteries located inside the central core of the station, a configuration that ensures optimal resource consumption.

Whenever someone wants to plug something in, he or she must first push a button to ask the PLC whether there is energy available. Different modes feature different priority levels for energy use in the station, with essential functions such as ventilation and the bioreactor receiving high priority, bathroom and kitchen appliances receiving medium priority and outlets used to connect additional non-essential items receiving low priority. If there is energy available, the PLC diverts requested energy to the outlet.

Minimizing its impact on the environment won’t end after the Princess Elisabeth Station reaches the end of its functional life, either. Constructed from wood and a stainless steel structure, the station was designed so it could be easily disassembled and shipped out of Antarctica, where a number of its wooden and steel components can be recycled and re-used.

Renewable Energy

The station is designed to be powered by a combination of two renewable and carbon-neutral technologies for producing electricity: wind and solar power. While wind power will be used to supply the station with electricity all year long, solar power will provide both electricity (photovoltaic panels) and hot water (solar thermal panels) during the austral summer.

Water Treatment

In line with the requirements of the Antarctic Treaty to minimise environmental impact, the Princess Elisabeth station will be equipped with a specially designed water treatment unit. Inspired by technology developed for the space sector, the two bioreactors and two filtration units will allow the station to treat 100% of its grey and black waters. Most of the recycled water, although fit for human consumption, will be reused for other functions.

Passive Building

The station's skin, insulation, shape, orientation and window disposition allow a comfortable ambient temperature to be maintained inside the building with little energy input. Sophisticated ventilation and air circulation systems are an integral part of temperature management. The Princess Elisabeth station was conceived to take full advantage of currently available passive building techniques.

Smart Systems

All station systems are integrated and piloted by an intelligent central unit. This configuration will ensure that working and living conditions inside the station are optimised with minimal resource consumption. This centralised control of interdependent systems also allows for remote monitoring during the winter.