Feasibility of Renewable Energy for Power Generation at the South Pole

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2306.13552
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Authors: Susan Babinec; Ian Baring-Gould; A. N. Bender; Nate Blair; Xiangkun Li; Ralph T. Muehleisen; Dan Olis; Silvana Ovaitt
• Keywords: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex); 13. Climate action; FOS: Physical sciences; Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph); 7. Clean energy

Transitioning from fossil-fuel power generation to renewable energy and storage in remote locations has the potential reduce both carbon emissions cost. This study presents a techno-economic analysis for implementation of hybrid system at South Pole Antarctica, which currently hosts several high-energy physics experiments with nontrivial needs. A tailored model resource availability economics solar photovoltaics, wind turbine generators, lithium-ion storage, long-duration this site is explored different combinations without existing diesel generation. The Renewable Energy Integration Optimization (REopt) platform used determine optimal component sizing associated environmental benefit. We find that least-cost includes all three sources storage. For an example steady-state load 170 kW, 180 kW-DC photovoltaic panels, 570 kW turbines, 3.4 MWh battery system. reduces consumption by 95% compared all-diesel configuration, resulting approximately 1200 metric tons footprint avoided annually. Over course 15-year period reduced usage leads net savings 57 million United States dollars, time payback two years. All scenarios modeled show transition renewables highly cost effective under unique constraints extremely site.