Energy Utilization Concepts for the CELSS Antarctic Analog Project

One of the crucial issues associated with advanced life support systems is the issue of energy consumption and utilization. This is of paramount importance in food production, resource recovery and waste processing. Because of the difficult logistics, the South Pole Station represents a unique opportunity for the development of the concepts of energy consumption and utilization. The CELSS Antarctic Analog Project (CAAP) is being developed and deployed for operations at the South Pole Station to conduct a validation of CELSS and life support techniques and approaches under severe, isolated and realistic conditions. These polar conditions are analogous to space mission scenarios, a Mars surface habitat or a Lunar encampment mission. This paper will explore methods and processes for maximizing the effectiveness and benefits of CAAP while reducing the overall energy penalty in its operation. CAAP will accomplish this through a combination of the following: 1.) the implementation and integration of high efficiency components and equipment groups, 2.) through the effective integration of CAAP with the South Pole Station infrastructure to maximize “waste” heat utilization and the maximum extraction of useful work from that “lost” energy and 3.) through the incorporation and utilization of in-situ energy resources. Estimates will be reported for energy use, efficiencies and energy demand with impacts to the South Pole Station.