'Portable battery' to power Antarctic research station

An unattended "portable battery" is set to provide uninterrupted power to China's Taishan Antarctic research station, reports jstv.com.

Researchers from Southeast University work on an unattended "portable battery" which is designed to provide uninterrupted power to Chinese researchers in the polar regions. [File Photo: Wechat/Southeast University]

Developed by China's Southeast University, the device will be sent to the Taishan base by Chinese icebreaker "Xuelong" in November to start trial runs as the first domestically-made "battery" of its kind.

The research vessel Xuelong sails in the fog. (Photo from the official website of the State Oceanic Administration)

Its creators say the unattended power source is expected to boost energy resources to help with research at the Taishan station.

China's fourth Antarctic research station, the Taishan base, named for one of China's five sacred mountains, sits at an altitude of 2,600 metres. It has to endure an average annual temperature of minus 36.6 degrees Celsius.

The harsh natural environment means Chinese researchers need to use mechanical &remote controls, rather than manual duties at the station, thus making an unattended power supply key to the base's daily operations.