Main building structure of China's new Antarctic station capped

China's fifth Antarctic research station, which is under construction along the coastal areas of the Ross Sea, is a step closer to completion after the hoisting of the last steel beam of the main building on Saturday, sealing the roof of its main structure.

Construction of the new station started in early December. Besides the completion of the main building structure, all 84 functional modules have been installed in place. The installation of curtain wall panels is under way.

The next task will be the installation of exterior wall panels, indoor supporting facilities and a logistics center structure, Wang Zhechao, leader of the new station branch of China's 40th Antarctic expedition team, told China Media Group (CMG).

The Crux-shaped new station, with a designed floor space of 5,244 square meters, is designed to accommodate 80 expedition personnel for multi-layer and multidisciplinary observation, monitoring and scientific research in fields including atmospheric environment, marine basic environment and biological ecology.

The construction work is expected to be completed by February.

New energy-powered station

The main building, along with multiple supporting projects, forms a complete building system.

Covering an area of 2,000 square meters, a logistics center is connected to the main building.

The logistic center will serve as a warehouse with integrated functions, including power generation, sewage treatment and seawater desalination, Wang told CMG.

"Moreover, our logistics center also has the conditions and facilities for the life support of the entire new station," said Wang.

About 1 kilometer away from the new station is the area where an energy station, which is currently undergoing testing, will be located.

It will support photovoltaic and wind power generation. Once completed, 60 percent of the energy supplied for the new station will be generated from new energies.

"At present, the testing of the microgrid system is all going well," Tian Junhui, team member for new station construction, told CMG.

The entire system can perform unattended operation, said Tian.

He said the team will build 10 10-kilowatt wind turbines and 10 photovoltaic arrays there, each able to generate 100 kwh of electricity per hour, fully meeting the normal supply for all the loads in the new station.

A helipad spanning 1,100 square meters, which will be able to accommodate two helicopters at the same time, is also under construction.