The Ross Island Wind Energy – Stage 1 Project

In January 2010, the three 330kW turbines were commissioned, supplying renewable energy to the two bases on Ross Island, Antarctica.

Constructed over a two-year period, the Enercon turbines are specially designed to cope with the extreme low temperatures experienced in Antarctica, with no gearboxes and minimal maintenance requirements. The turbines can operate down to -40 degrees.  Typically there is little wind when temperatures are below about -35 degrees. 

The energy is supplied to New Zealand’s Scott Base and the United States McMurdo Station through a small transmission grid and is expected to allow a reduction in diesel fuel annually of about 463,000 litres (122,000 gallons) or about 11%. The wind energy also offsets 1242 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), a key component of greenhouse gases.

Meridian is investigating a further stage of wind development at Ross Island which would assist further load for the bases to be converted over to wind energy generation.