Enercon wind turbines turn on the heat in Antarctica

20 May 2003

Under the curious gaze of several penguins, Enercon recently erected the first wind turbines in Antarctica - three E-30 (300 kw) machines.

The wind turbines will work as part of a hybrid system together with a diesel generator in order to supply the Australian Antarctic Division's 'Australian Mawson' research station with electricity.

The antarctic turbines are capable of withstanding extreme stresses such as temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero and wind speeds of up to 250 km/h. Such harsh conditions also require specially modified steel towers, strong enough to withstand special loads of air density, wind and very low temperatures. The cast parts were also manufactured with some small modifications that adapt them to the low temperatures and a thermal supply was required for the electrical parts. The electrical boxes, for instance, were fitted with heaters.

Transport of the wind turbines was also a difficult task for a number of reasons. The main obstacle was that due to environmental protection there are no roads so the tower sections, nacelle and hub were brought to the foundations on a sledge! Erection was also difficult because a wind of between 15 and 25 m/s blows until the early hours of the afternoon.