China is working towards 100% renewable power at its Antarctic bases by 2035

A system that uses wind, solar and hydrogen energy already meets more than 60 per cent of demand at Qinling Station

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.