Repsol supplies 100% renewable fuels to Spanish Antarctic base

In Antarctica, a unique continent dedicated to science, the Spanish Army are realizing the 37th Antarctic Campaign, this year more sustainable than ever thanks to Repsol’s 100% renewable fuels that provide part of the energy that the Gabriel de Castilla Base needs for electricity, hot water, and heating. 

For four months, these facilities are home to the 13 army personnel deployed there. Their main task is to support and collaborate with the Ministry of Science and Innovation in the research projects that different teams of scientists carry out there during the austral summer.

The renewable fuels have been specifically provided for this mission by the Repsol Technology Lab, the innovation centre of the company, as the temperature on Deception Island, (South Shetland Archipelago) where the base is located reaches -30ºC. 

The Spanish base “Gabriel de Castilla” consists of different modules, such as the living quarters where the dining rooms and dormitories are located, the scientific module where research projects are carried out, and other buildings for maintenance and support of the activity on the island. To provide energy for these facilities, 2,000 liters of 100% renewable diesel will be used.

The Antarctic continent is the largest natural reserve on the planet and for the Spanish Army, which manages the Gabriel de Castilla Base, sustainability and minimization of the environmental impact during campaigns has always been a maxim, as defined in the Antarctic Treaty and the Madrid Protocol. In addition, in 2010 the Antarctic Gabriel de Castilla Base achieved the Environmental Management System Certification by AENOR, based on ISO 14001, culminating a process initiated ten years earlier that highlights the Armed Forces’s commitment to environmental protection. Repsol’s 100% renewable fuels provide a sustainable solution without the need to modify existing engines and facilities and, therefore, an ideal solution to immediately reduce the net emissions of CO2.