Overview the world's first zero waste research station in Antarctica.

While renewable energy sources are one way of minimizing the environmental impact Antarctic station, however, Princess Elizabeth goes on and optimize the obtained energy. Working closely with partners Schneider Electric and GDF Suez (Laborelec), team polar Foundation has developed a local version of the smart grid, which is three times more efficient than any existing conventional energy network.

Monitoring of available resources





Green energy sources, usually are not something permanent, especially in Antarctica. Because the station can not create infinite energy to meet an uncontrolled demand, all employees of the station have to adapt their needs to the amount of available energy. The Central computer monitors available energy and distributes it according to a set of strict rules.

These priorities





The energy demand inside the station Princess Elizabeth distributed in accordance with the priorities of the system. Depending on the time of day, certain activities will have priority over others. However, it was also established common priorities, regardless of the time of day, ranging from security (high priority) to (lowest).

The allocation of energy to end users





When a user requests energy, he/she must press the switch located near the power connector and wait until the system checks the availability of energy. If the energy can be delivered in accordance with the priorities of the system, the switch glows green, if not, the switch remains red and the user should wait.

Batteries for energy storage

Due to frequently changing weather conditions in Antarctica, the energy production is not always the best process.





In order to ensure continuous and sufficient availability of energy, the station Princess Elizabeth was equipped with a cluster of lead-acid batteries to store excess energy for later use.

Efficient energy management

While all technological elements for energy production at the station Princess Elizabeth has been available for some time, however, they were never combined together as a single efficient network.

Smart grid-driven programmable logic controller provides all consumers with an installed capacity which is ten times the energy production that makes a smart grid station three times more efficient than any existing network.

Remote control

Thanks to a ground station for satellite communication provided by the partner SES Astra, station Princess Elisabeth is now permanently associated with Belgium. This unique feature of the station allows scientists to send research data to the laboratories around the world in real time.





However, besides scientific added value of the permanent satellite link, the main advantage is the ability to remote control station, thus providing maximum efficiency to control the smart grid. published

P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! ©

Source: www.ekopower.ru/?p=3558