
一套專為極地環(huán)境定制的清潔能源系統(tǒng)已在中國南極秦嶺站投入運行。
這一突破意味著中國成為首個在南極極端環(huán)境下實現(xiàn)規(guī)?;履茉聪到y(tǒng)運行的國家。
56歲的首席科學家孫宏斌告訴《中國日報》,該項目標志著中國取得了極地能源領(lǐng)域綠色科學探索的里程碑,也意味著我國極地科考從“柴油時代”邁入了綠色能源新時代。
“該系統(tǒng)啟用將產(chǎn)生大量數(shù)據(jù),同時帶來諸多挑戰(zhàn),推動持續(xù)性研究?!睂O宏斌說。他是中國極地研究中心極地清潔能源首席科學家,同時也是山西省人大代表、太原理工大學校長。
自3月1日系統(tǒng)啟動以來,它已取代傳統(tǒng)柴油動力源,為2024年2月建成的中國第五個南極科考站——秦嶺站的科研設(shè)備和基本生活設(shè)施提供持續(xù)零碳電力。
在該系統(tǒng)的能源構(gòu)成中,光伏和風電占整個站區(qū)總能源容量的60%。在無風和無日照等極端天氣下,儲存的氫氣可為科考站供電,保障科研設(shè)備和基礎(chǔ)生活設(shè)施的短期運行。
孫宏斌強調(diào),確保設(shè)備可靠性和系統(tǒng)安全性是主要挑戰(zhàn)。例如,研發(fā)能夠在冰蓋上運行的“水滴形”風力發(fā)電機,以及氫燃料電池所需的耐寒冷啟動技術(shù)。
南極秦嶺站新能源系統(tǒng)建設(shè)項目始于2023年。

3月26日,太原理工大學校長孫宏斌在該校極地環(huán)境清潔能源實驗室內(nèi)介紹秦嶺站清潔能源系統(tǒng)。 朱興鑫 攝
由于大部分設(shè)備和設(shè)施需專門研發(fā)改造以適應(yīng)極端環(huán)境,太原理工大學建立了模擬南極環(huán)境的數(shù)字孿生實驗室。
該實驗室可模擬近10種極端條件,包括極寒、強風、暴雪、極晝極夜、強地磁、強紫外線輻射、低壓和低氧環(huán)境等。
孫宏斌表示,建立實驗室的主要初衷是應(yīng)對研究、測試和運行中的挑戰(zhàn)。
“設(shè)備一旦抵達南極,哪怕一顆螺絲釘壞了都沒有地方買。”他說,“在運往南極之前,各類新能源裝置都在此進行測試。如今,實驗室還接收并分析從南極傳回的實時數(shù)據(jù)?!?/p>
近年來,世界各國圍繞南極清潔能源發(fā)展進行探索,主要聚焦太陽能和風能。但極端環(huán)境與技術(shù)短板使風光發(fā)電設(shè)備難以穩(wěn)定高效運行。
“中國是首個在南極極端環(huán)境中規(guī)?;瘧?yīng)用氫能的國家。”太原理工大學電氣與動力工程學院院長竇銀科說。自2004年起,竇銀科多次參與南極科考,是該領(lǐng)域權(quán)威專家。
竇銀科表示,在全球變暖和冰川消融背景下,中國于2017年提出“綠色科考”的倡議。國際相關(guān)組織多次建議各國在南極從燃油發(fā)電轉(zhuǎn)向清潔能源,但受極地環(huán)境惡劣制約,進展緩慢。
南極擁有巨大的風能和太陽能潛力,目前全球約30個南極科考站已安裝清潔能源發(fā)電設(shè)備,半數(shù)以上采用太陽能或風能。
然而,他補充說,由于缺乏針對南極環(huán)境特點的清潔能源技術(shù)系統(tǒng)性應(yīng)用與開發(fā),在安全性和穩(wěn)定性上仍無法完全取代傳統(tǒng)能源系統(tǒng)。
“當前全球80%至90%的南極科考站仍依賴燃油發(fā)電,給極地造成了嚴重的環(huán)境污染?!备]銀科說。
2024年,太原理工大學牽頭編制的《南極清潔能源利用技術(shù)十二年發(fā)展綱要》發(fā)布,目標是到2035年形成完備的南極科考站清潔能源供給技術(shù)體系。
“我這輩子就做這件事。這只是萬里長征的第一步,是一次示范和實驗。”孫宏斌說。他表示,關(guān)鍵技術(shù)突破還將推動中國重要能源基地山西省的能源革命。
孫宏斌希望在山西建立一個兩萬平方米的南極極端環(huán)境模擬實驗室,以加強未來的研究工作。
“有了清潔能源,人在極地就能存活下去。未來,我們甚至可能在月球和火星上安裝和測試這項技術(shù)。”他說。
(中國日報山西記者站首席記者 朱興鑫)
英文原文:

Two droplet-shaped wind turbines spin in front of China's Qinling station in Antarctica. CHINA DAILY
A clean energy system tailored for polar conditions has been put into operation in China's Qinling station in Antarctica.
The breakthrough means China has become the first country to achieve the large-scale operation of a clean energy system under extreme Antarctic conditions.
Lead scientist Sun Hongbin, 56, told China Daily that the project marks an achievement in China's green scientific exploration in the field of polar energy, and signifies that the nation's polar exploration has developed from the diesel era into a new era of green energy.
The system will generate a wealth of data, as well as present challenges that will prompt continuous research, said Sun, who is also the chief scientist on polar clean energy at the Polar Research Institute of China and president of Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi province.
Since the launch of the system on March 1, it has replaced traditional diesel power sources, providing uninterrupted zero-carbon power for the research equipment and essential living facilities at Qinling station, which was established in February last year as China's fifth Antarctic research station.
Photovoltaic and wind power account for 60 percent of the energy capacity of the system. In situations without wind or sunlight, stored hydrogen can provide power to the station, ensuring short-term operation for research equipment and basic living facilities.
Sun stressed the primary challenges in ensuring the reliability and safety of the equipment. For instance, the development of the droplet-shaped wind turbine capable of operating on ice caps and hydrogen fuel cells demands cold-resistant power-up technology.
Construction of the system at the station commenced in 2023.
As much of the equipment and facilities required specialized research and modification to adapt to the extreme conditions, Taiyuan University of Technology established a digital twin laboratory simulating the environment of Antarctica.
This laboratory possesses the capabilities to simulate nearly 10 extreme conditions, including extreme cold, strong winds, blizzards, polar day and night, intense geomagnetic fields, strong ultraviolet radiation, low pressure and low oxygen levels.
The primary purpose of establishing this laboratory was to address the challenges of research, testing and operation, Sun said.
"Once the equipment arrives in Antarctica, we have no means to procure a replacement if a single screw malfunctions," he said. "Before deployment to Antarctica, various new energy devices underwent testing here. Now the laboratory receives and analyzes real-time data transmitted back from Antarctica."
In recent years, various countries have explored approaches to develop clean energy in Antarctica, with solar and wind energy being the primary focus.
However, the extreme conditions and shortage of technologies make it tough for solar and wind power generation equipment to maintain stable and efficient operation.

Sun Hongbin introduces the clean energy system for Qinling station
in Antarctica at Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi province. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY
China is the first country to implement hydrogen energy in the extreme environment of Antarctica on a large scale, said Dou Yinke, dean of the Taiyuan university's College of Electrical and Power Engineering, and a leading expert who has participated in multiple Antarctic expeditions since 2004.
Against the backdrop of global warming and glacier melting, China proposed the concept of "green exploration" in 2017, Dou said. International organizations have repeatedly urged countries to transition from fuel-based power generation to clean energy in Antarctica.
As Antarctica possesses vast wind and solar energy potential, countries worldwide have been exploring clean energy in this area.
To date, approximately 30 Antarctic research stations have installed clean energy generation devices, with over half utilizing solar or wind, Dou said.
However, due to the lack of systematic application and development of clean energy technologies tailored to the Antarctic environment, these systems cannot yet fully replace traditional energy systems on the aspects of safety and stability, he said.
Currently, 80 to 90 percent of the world's Antarctic research stations still rely on fuel-powered electricity generation, leading to significant environmental pollution in the polar regions, said Dou.
Last year, the Taiyuan university led the formulation of the "Twelve-Year Development Outline for Clean Energy Utilization Technologies in the Antarctic", aiming to establish a comprehensive clean energy supply system for Antarctic research stations by 2035.
"I will dedicate my whole life to the cause. I believe we have just taken the first step on a long journey. It is a demonstration and an experiment," Sun said. Key technology breakthroughs can also drive the energy revolution in the province, a major energy base in China, said Sun.
Sun hopes to establish a 20,000-square-meter Antarctic extreme environment simulation laboratory in Shanxi to enhance future research.
"With clean energy, people can survive in polar regions. In the future, we may even install and test this technology on the moon and Mars," Sun said.
來源:中國日報,2025年4月22日第7版
鏈接:
1. https://sx.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/22/WS68070bffa310e29a7c4aa96a.html
2. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/22/WS6806ea30a3104d9fd3820bb6_1.html