Even Antarctica has wind power

[Quixote1818]

Australia is the first country to get a significant electricity supply for its Antarctic stations, fueled by the most powerful winds on the planet.

The Mawson turbine
The turbine at Mawson is a variable-speed, 300 kW machine, mounted on a steel tower. A computerized power-house management system is vital to the efficient operation of the wind farm. This optimizes the instantaneous wind resource and diesel generator outputs to the station load.

When the wind resource exceeds around 40% of the station load, short-term energy storage systems (such as fly-wheels, batteries or hydrogen powered fuel cells) are used to hold the station load while different combinations of wind and diesel are switched onto the grid.

Antarctica’s environment presented some challenges for designing and constructing the turbine. The fierce Antarctic conditions, with strong, gusty winds and freezing temperatures, can place enormous stresses on wind turbine rotors. Pouring foundations in freezing conditions, minimizing wildlife disturbance, and avoiding icing and wind abrasion all had to be considered. These challenges needed some innovative solutions.

The blades were cast in specialist steel in order to better cope with the cold conditions and avoid metal fatigue. Training in specialized maintenance and servicing of turbines is provided to station staff. The training includes safety aspects of working at heights.

More: https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/amenities-and-operations/renewable-energy/wind-power/

[jpak]

1. Many of the seasonal US Antarctic camps have switched to wind and solar

I flew back from McMurdo Station one time next to a guy that installed them.

He had been all over the Continent - I was so jealous.

[Poiuyt]

2. My cousin does his research at McMurdo

[moondust]

3. North Sea

Around 50 wind farms in the North Sea

Russia, Sweden, and maybe others have wind farms inside the Arctic Circle.

Has Abbott & Co. ever heard of those places?

[Blue_true]

4. Don't let Abbott decide the battlefield. He is lying about wind power. Call him a liar. nt

[Massacure]

5. Most wind turbine manufacturers offer cold kits for their turbines

For example, utilities can order blades manufactured with carbon fiber heating elements in them to deal with icing, and greases and/or lubricants formulated to maintain fluidity at lower temperatures than normal ones would.

I highly doubt the turbines in Texas were installed with such systems. The operators probably did not request such cold packages, and the manufacturers probably didn't go out of their way to recommend them either given Texas' climate.

[moondust]

7. Texas was warned 10 years ago.

Texas grid fails to weatherize, repeats mistake feds cited 10 years ago

Of course Texas has had Republican governors since 1995.

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. They had a serious incident in 2017 with their turbine

The entire rotor head, blades and all....

FELL OFF!



https://www.businessinsider.com.au/photos-a-massive-wind-turbine-has-collapsed-at-australias-mawson-antarctic-station-2017-11/amp