Antarctic station goes clean with new technology

TAIYUAN — China's Qinling Station in Antarctica launched a pioneering hybrid power system in March, integrating wind, solar, hydrogen and diesel energy, marking the completion of the country's first large-scale clean energy project on the continent.

The system is designed to use renewables to supply 60 percent of the station's power, and is expected to cut annual fossil fuel use by over 100 metric tons, underscoring China's push for greener polar research.

The station has installed 100-kilowatt wind turbines, 130-kW solar panels, a 30-kW hydrogen setup and a 300-kilowatt-hour capacity low-temperature battery, according to a member of China's 41st Antarctic expedition team.