Although the active development of the Arctic has been going on for decades, the world of permafrost and drifting ice is still not as comfortable for human life and work as we would like. The harsh and at the same time vulnerable nature of the Arctic poses many difficult challenges for people. But modern science and technology are coping with the polar difficulties, and many projects are being developed in the Russian Arctic today.
The project of the international Arctic station “Snowflake”. Image: arctic-mipt.com
Nuclear technology against harsh conditions
Even at the dawn of Arctic exploration, it was clear that you couldn’t sail far with an ordinary navy in these parts. The thickness of the ice off the northern shores of Eurasia reaches 2.5-3 meters, and ice exists in these seas most of the year. And although scientists surprise us with forecasts, promising a complete melting of the floating Arctic ice, year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route is still impossible without an icebreaking fleet.
The pride of the Russian nuclear industry, the Arctic icebreaker project 22220, is able to pave the way even in areas where the ice thickness reaches 3 meters! Compared to previous types of icebreakers, the new vessels have increased cross-country capability and exceed their speed. They can simultaneously operate at great depths in the marine area and enter the channels of northern rivers.
As in any other part of the planet, electric and thermal energy are needed to work and live in the polar regions. But in the Arctic, obtaining it is complicated not only by extreme weather conditions, but also by the huge distances between settlements and industrial facilities.
Since 2020, the unique floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov has been operating off the coast of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. This is a remote area devoid of affordable energy sources, and the delivery of combustible fuel for the operation of a thermal power plant is associated with significant difficulties. The nuclear floating station has become an original solution to the problem, although it is very costly.
Another source of nuclear energy in the Arctic is hydrogen. An interesting project is currently being developed at the MIPT Institute of Arctic Technologies: the international Arctic station Snowflake. It is assumed that this will be a fully autonomous scientific complex of dome-type buildings with a capacity of up to 80 people, and the energy autonomy of the facility will be provided by hydrogen energy.
The station is planned to house an astronomical observatory and several scientific laboratories, which, along with other research, will deal with the problems of permafrost degradation in the Arctic. In addition to nuclear power, wind power will also be used at the station. The scientific complex is planned to be located near the city of Salekhard, as this place is known for its frequent and strong winds.
Obtaining energy from wind power is another promising area for the development of Arctic energy. In areas remote from the mainland, wind speeds often reach 25 m/s or even higher. MIPT scientists are developing a wind power plant for the Arctic. It is able to operate at temperatures up to minus 50 ° C, withstand wind gusts up to 60 m/s and is not subject to glaciation.
Comprehensive environmental monitoring and new technologies
Image: NOAA Photo Library/CC BY 2.0
Comprehensive scientific research in the Arctic is the basis for the sustainable development of the region. The study of methane emissions in the seas, climate indicators, ice conditions, monitoring of flora and fauna, and geophysical research – these and many other issues in the Arctic are constantly being addressed by Russian specialists due to increasing environmental risks.
In particular, to solve these problems, a unique platform was created and put into operation two years ago – the North Pole drifting scientific station with the possibility of autonomous navigation for up to 2 years. This is a real mobile laboratory, which can simultaneously accommodate more than 30 scientists of various profiles. In August 2024, the ship sailed to the Arctic for the second time.
In addition to the North Pole platform, a number of scientific vessels with special equipment are operating in the Arctic, which monitor environmental parameters, including as part of international projects. Our country participates in a project to preserve the population of polar bears and carries out work in the framework of studying climate change.
Scientific observations in the Arctic are conducted not only in the region itself, but also from space. Two Arctic-M remote sensing satellites were launched specifically for these purposes. In addition to round-the-clock monitoring, these devices provide communication in the waters of the Arctic Ocean: at the moment, this almost uninhabited territory has no alternative means of communication.
The first development of raw materials in the Russian Arctic began in the Soviet period. Copper-nickel ores, hydrocarbons, diamonds, chromium ores and much, much more – all this variety of minerals is mined today in the mainland of the Russian Arctic. New technological solutions will be required to extract raw materials in the marine area.
First of all, work is underway to create and apply new materials that are used for infrastructure and mining facilities. In addition, digital services and IT technologies are being actively introduced, and automation of all processes is underway: from monitoring the ice situation to drilling exploration wells and the offshore oil production process itself.
Several projects are being developed at once on the basis of the Rubin Marine Engineering Design Bureau for work in Arctic conditions, including for mining on the shelf. The very promising Iceberg project is presented. It is a high–tech complex that will be able to engage in seismic exploration and oil production on the seabed, even in areas where there is long-term sea ice.
By Olga Frolova
