The coolest wind farm in the world
Wind farms are commonly called "alternative" energy sources, although their design and construction is now fairly mainstream. But the logistics of undertaking such a project in Antarctica have resulted in a world-first development, with the excitement and challenge of a highly innovative engineering endeavour.
Ross Island is 2,460 square kilometres in area and perched amid the Ross Sea in McMurdo Sound, off the Antarctic coast. Despite its diminutive size, the island is home to four volcanoes, including Mt Erebus which, at 3,794 metres, is higher than Aoraki/Mt Cook. Ross Island is also home to New Zealand research station, Scott Base, and the United States Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station.
Scott Bennett, Project Manager with Meridian Energy, knows Ross Island well. Over the past two and a half years, he has led a team to develop and realise Stage One of the Ross Island Wind Energy proof-of-concept project. He says it has been a logistically intense project, with limited room for error in terms of time frames, design and installation.
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