A system that uses wind, solar and hydrogen energy already meets more than 60 per cent of demand at Qinling Station
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenShi HuangPublished: 2:00pm, 3 Aug 2026Scientists in Antarctica have to deal with extreme cold, wind and months of total darkness while they carry out their research.Inland, the temperature can plummet below minus 80 degrees Celsius (minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit) during winter, while wind speeds of over 100km/h (62mph) – and even over 200km/h – can be experienced for days at a time.
Qinling, which opened in 2024, already meets more than 60 per cent of its energy needs through solar, wind and hydrogen power and energy storage batteries.
Ultimately, the plan is to use renewables for 100 per cent of energy demand at all of China’s Antarctic research stations by 2035, Sun Hongbin, chief scientist on the country’s polar clean energy programme, told state-run China Natural Resources News in June.
