Green Explorers -The TransAntarctic Biofuel-Powered Expedition

The Moon-Regan Trans Antarctic Expedition will cross the continent of Antarctica from the west coast to the South Pole, then heading north through the Trans-Antarctic Mountain Range to the coast at McMurdo, covering distance of around 3,000 miles. The team's goal is to educate the world about Antarctica’s key role in climate change.

A bio-fueled Concept Ice Vehicle (CIV) has been developed specifically for the expedition. Equipped with an ice radar, the un-manned CIV will lead the way and scan for hidden crevasses. Two larger Science Support Vehicles (SSVs) carrying the team and their equipment will follow the pilot vehicle. The original SSV was adapted by a team of engineers in Iceland, who dedicated 2,000 man hours to creating the perfect ice-busting expedition vehicle. They use a low emission, turbo-charged, fuel-injected, 7.3 litre, V8 (bio)diesel and will be equipped with solar panels to provide extra power. Unfortunately, Antarctica is much too cold for current battery technology, and this makes electric cars unpractical (not to mention the lack of charging stations).

The biofuel-powered Concept Ice Vehicle (CIV), made by Lotus, a cross Between Skidoo and an ltralight plane will be used to raise awareness about "how Antarctica’s fate affects the whole environment." Live feeds and results from scientific experiments will be available on the web and used in classrooms around the world.

The expedition will be using biofuel to see if it can be a genuine alternative to fossil fuels – even in the extreme environment of the Antarctic. Biofuels can be made from vegetable oil, animal fat or fish oils. They produce no carbon dioxide and burn more cleanly and efficiently than fossil fuels. The main challenge is to find ways to produce biofuels in a sustainable manner by recycling and using by-products from local food manufacturers -two ways in which biofuels can be environmentally friendly. Research and technology needs to focus on finding other sustainable ways to produce biofuels.

“If you can run bio-fuels successfully in the most harsh and extreme environment in the world, then there is no reason why you can’t use them to get to the supermarket!” says Andrew Regan, expedition leader.

Posted by Casey Kazan.

http://www.transantarcticexpedition.com/expedition/

Comments

[Arnold]

Maybe I am incorrect, but how can a biofuel, carbon based, have not CO2 as a product of the chemical combustion reaction. I thought only hydrogen, who's products are Energy & H2O was a form of combustion without CO2?

[GrannyJ]

Of course, CO2 is produced; life on this earth is, of course, carbon based. I think the idea is that just maybe, if we're really really really lucky, we might just balance out the CO2 from burning the biofuel with new growth by a carbon using plant that takes up CO2 from the air.

My opinion? Not very likely! We're more likely to run out of plants with which to make the biofuel.

[GrannyJ]

Fast

[Alice Delfinovic]

No, granny, you'll probably die of old age long before that happens. In fact all humans will die of old age before that happens. Earth is one tough momma.

[Brian H]

Since biofuel can be made from algae in sun-ponds at about 50X the rate of equivalent plant harvests, there shouldn't be any shortage.