At the end of January, the Troll research station was visited by a large Norwegian delegation led by Espen Barth Eide and three state secretaries. The aim was to gain more knowledge about the activity at Troll, and to gain an overview of the need for upgrading. Now the conclusion is clear. A brand new Troll station could be ready in 2030. The government has decided to build a new station at around NOK 2 billion. – We will build a modern station that is sober, but efficient, and that will provide plenty of space to carry out the research that will be carried out there, says climate and environment minister Eide (Ap) to news. The container ship Malic Arctica unloads supplies at the edge of the ice in January 2021. Now the unloading place has been moved, but this is how the modules for a new station will reach Antarctica. It is 29 miles from the ice edge to Troll. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute By ship to the edge of the ice There is no A4 job to build a research station in Antarctica. It must be sent in modules by ship from Europe, across the Southern Ocean and up to the edge of the ice. From there, the various “pieces” must be transported with tracked vehicles over the blue ice, 290 kilometers to Troll. The construction work must be carried out over several summer seasons, from November to early March. The rest of the year the station is isolated from the outside world. Statsbygg has described the project as the most special they have ever had. – This will be a radical change. The decision represents a solid investment in Norwegian research in the Antarctic, says director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Ole Arve Misund. Those who run the station. Managing Director of Statsbygg, Harald Nikolaisen (tv) and Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Ole Arve Misund at Troll. Photo: Eivind Molde / news Dire conditions Today, the researchers working on Troll are in deplorable conditions. They do not have their own office or other premises that they can dispose of permanently throughout the season. – The way it is now, we have to improvise all the time. With the new station, we will have space for up to 20 researchers at the same time. They get both office space, a laboratory and space to prepare field activities, says Misund. Troll research station. On the left we see the red station building, which will be demolished and replaced by a new building of 6,500 square metres. This must happen at the same time as operations are in full swing. Photo: Eivind Molde / news Statsbygg has prepared four different proposals that range in price from NOK one to NOK 3 billion. Alternatives to 2 and 3 billion have been assessed as the most relevant. Now it is the second most ambitious proposal that will become a reality. It will be a new building of 6,500 square meters. – This alternative gives us a modern and future-oriented station, says Misund. Troll was ready in 1990, but was only used in the summer. 15 years later, the station was upgraded to a year-round station, and was opened by Queen Sonja. After almost 20 years under extreme weather conditions, the station is about to expire. Queen Sonja opened the year-round station in 2005. Photo: Cornelius Poppe Halve greenhouse gas emissions In connection with the study tour, the managing director of Statsbygg, Harald Nikolaisen, said the following to news: – The station has a remaining life of less than ten years. Secondly, the capacity is too small, and thirdly, the climate footprint is bad. It is necessary to make room for a sustainable energy supply. Today, almost all energy comes from a diesel generator. – One thing is the use of diesel at the station throughout the year. But as much as 60 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions at Troll come from the transport of diesel to the station. Now we want to expand with solar and wind power on Troll. In this way, we can halve greenhouse gas emissions compared to today. It will still be necessary to use diesel, but only as a supplement, said Nikolaisen. Close to Troll is the satellite station TrollSat. Data that is downloaded here is used, among other things, for research, weather forecasting, climate and environmental monitoring and ship monitoring. Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) operates this station. In addition, the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) has an advanced measuring station for air and atmosphere in the area. There is also a meteorological station at Troll. King Harald joked with Queen Sonja when he told about the visit to the Troll research station in 2015. Norwegian responsible Espen Barth Eide emphasizes that these also benefit from a new station. Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide on a trip from Troll. Photo: Eivind Molde / news – What TrollSat does is one of the most important sources of information in real time about the state of our planet. The new station makes it safer and more secure to keep the activity on and around Troll going even through the Antarctic winter, says Eide. – Is it necessary to spend 2 billion in Antarctica? – We have a great responsibility as a polar nation, and through the cooperation on the Antarctic Treaty. With a new station, we can make a better effort to understand more of climate change, which is not least taking effect in the polar region. We get a solid Norwegian footprint in Antarctica, as we have in Svalbard in the Arctic. I am very happy and proud that we have now received a clarification, says Eide.
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Bit by bit, there will be a new research station in Antarctica – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
