Two decades after setting foot on the land of blizzards, India is all set to rebuild Maitri, the first permanent station on Antarctica.
The research station would be totally redone with a view to making it eco-friendly and independent of fossil fuels. Though use of petroleum products cannot be totally done away with, the plan is to reduce its use to 65 per cent by installing windmills near Maitri.
The station annually uses 5,00,000 litres of aviation turbine fuel. Of this, 2,40,000 litres are used to run the modified diesel generators, Aditya and Bhaskara, that power Maitri’s heating apparatus and other machinery.
“That is a huge quantity,” Dr S. Rajan, director of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), told this newspaper. “Our aim is to cut down as much as possible. The heating apparatus and other basic necessities will be run on wind energy. We are finalising a plan of the new green structure.”
Areas to the east of Maitri, located in Shirmacher Hills, are likely spots for the windmill. Initial studies have suggested that the masts of nearly 30 metre height would be needed to optimise wind conditions on the continent.
“We are looking at the composites and energy-saving materials to construct the new building,” said Dr Rajan. “Use of fuel for power generation will be regulated to cut emissions.”
The final plan will be submitted to the ministry of science by March 2012.
India, meanwhile, is also leading a global scientific team in an important experiment in the Glacier Valley in the Arctic. The experiment is aimed at gauging the impact of infusion of fresh water into the Arctic system due to melting of the glacier.
“The initial findings are very interesting and we will be ready with a preliminary report within two months,” Dr Rajan said.