Princess Elisabeth Antarctica: Last Stage to the First "Zero Emission" Research Station

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+ 23.02.2009 + Acting as a technological showcase and a launch pad for wider understanding of climate mechanisms, the "Princess Elisabeth" station will give unprecedented visibility to Belgium's commitment - and that of its people and businesses - to meeting the climate challenge.

110 years after the Belgica expedition, the International Polar Year 2007-2008 provides a unique opportunity for humanity. Once again, Belgium has set itself high goals. The Belgian Federal Government has commissioned the International Polar Foundation, founded by Alain Hubert and Professors André Berger (UCL) and Hugo Decleir (VUB), to build a new research station, the "Princess Elisabeth" Station, to be constructed during the austral summer 2007-2008.



Acting as a technological showcase and a launch pad for wider understanding of climate mechanisms, the "Princess Elisabeth" station will give unprecedented visibility to Belgium's commitment - and that of its people and businesses - to meeting the climate challenge.



The Princess Elisabeth Station is located upon the Utsteinen nunatak in the Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica). The exact coordinates are 71°57' S - 23°20' E.



Aiming for "zero emissions"

This project is a major first: the only polar base operating entirely on renewable energies! This represents a technical achievement blending the best both science and technology can offer.



By bringing together international technology and expertise, "Princess Elisabeth" will combine eco-friendly construction materials, clean and efficient energy use, optimization of the station's energy consumption and the best waste management techniques.



These leading techniques and facilities will aim to reduce the station's ecological footprint on the pristine environment of Antarctica, following the principles set forth by the Antarctic Treaty.



A scientific station

According to a Eurobarometer survey published in 2005, Europeans show great concern towards environmental issues. Along the same line, a consensus has been established amongst the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that human activities are indeed contributing to climate change.



Being that Antarctica constitutes an irreplaceable archive of the planet's climatic history, delving into that past is essential in order to address urgent practical problems now needing answers.



The stakes are thus high for "Princess Elisabeth". By providing state of the art facilities for a maximum of 16 scientists, the research station will contribute to the worldwide understanding of climate change.



After construction of the station, the accompanying research program will be managed and coordinated by the IPF's governmental partner, the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (Belspo). During the austral summer 2008-2009, the final phase of construction and tests as well as the first research activities will be carried out on site.



A Polar Secretariat composed of IPF members and Government representatives will coordinate the operational management of the station.



An educational programme

The research undergone at the station will be synchronized with an ongoing educational program, aimed to explain the spectrum of polar research and to stimulate interest within future generations. The educational program will offer increased visibility to polar research and its contribution to understanding climate change.

The Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica will officially be inaugurated on 15 February 2009 in the presence of an international delegation of journalists and political representatives. The project, initiated by International Polar Foundation, was made possible thanks to the support of various partners, both public and private. The completion of the construction is the result of two years of work. This "zero emission" station is a major accomplishment and sets a new standard for future stations. Moreover, Princess Elisabeth Antarctica is the only station to be entirely built during the International Polar Year.



The inauguration of the Princess Elisabeth Station is a sign of the growing interest in sustainable solutions. The combination of existing technologies such as energy management, passive building, or even construction as such, make the station a pioneering achievement in Antarctica and a milestone of sustainable development.



Besides its scientific mission, the station also has an educational mission and therefore activities at the station will be followed under "Class Zero Emission", a project by the IPF supported by the Dutch- and French-speaking communities of Belgium. This interactive workshop, which opens in March 2009, will try to stimulate thought and action about sustainable development among young people, and will put emphasis on the importance of polar science.
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Princess Elisabeth Antarctica 2009
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