A 17-year-old Chilean high school student, María Javiera Valenzuela, is drawing attention for proposing an innovative energy system that could help reduce diesel dependence at research stations in Antarctica. Her concept combines renewable energy with a next-generation nuclear microreactor, offering a potential way to cut carbon emissions while ensuring a reliable power supply in one of the world's most challenging environments. The proposal was developed for Chile’s 2026 Antarctic School Fair. It estimates that such a system could reduce an Antarctic base's annual carbon dioxide emissions by 3,254 tons, although it remains a student-led concept rather than an approved project.
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Rethinking power in Antarctica
Antarctic research stations operate in an environment where temperatures regularly plunge well below freezing, and months of darkness during winter make energy generation particularly difficult. Most bases continue to rely on diesel generators to provide electricity, heating and power for scientific equipment because they offer dependable, around-the-clock energy.
But transporting diesel fuel to this distant continent is costly and challenging. Besides emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the use of diesel fuel results in emissions of pollutants such as black carbon that may fall on the snow and accelerate its melting. Researchers have long explored alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power, but these alone are generally not sufficient to provide reliable year-round electricity under Antarctica's extreme conditions.
A hybrid energy proposal
In order to solve this problem, the Chilean student came up with an innovative idea for combining wind turbines, solar panels, and a nuclear microreactor running on TRISO fuel in one microgrid. Under the proposal, renewable energy sources would generate electricity whenever conditions allow, while the nuclear microreactor would provide reliable backup power during periods of limited sunlight or wind.
Nuclear microreactors are a new generation of small nuclear reactors created for remote places that do not have access to a grid electricity network. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, such reactors are meant to provide relatively little electricity for a long time without frequent refueling.
Based on her modelling, replacing a diesel-based system with the proposed hybrid setup could prevent approximately 3,254 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year at a large Antarctic research station. While the estimate is based on project calculations and would require independent validation, it highlights the potential environmental benefits of reducing fossil fuel use in polar regions.
