Rolls Battery Engineering is proud to support sustainable energy innovation in one of the most remote places on Earth: Port Lockroy, operated by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.

This season marked a significant milestone in the site’s renewable energy journey with various upgrades including the installation of a new bank of Rolls AGM batteries.

For decades, power generation in Antarctica relied heavily on diesel generators — including at research hubs such as Rothera Research Station, operated by the British Antarctic Survey. While effective, diesel systems are noisy, carbon-intensive, and logistically complex. At Port Lockroy, however, a transition has been underway since solar panels were installed in 2018. Our role was to enhance that system with dependable energy storage capable of withstanding the harsh Antarctic climate.

Rolls supplied a bank of eight S12-240AGM-RE batteries providing over 10 kWh of reliable storage capacity. AGM batteries were selected specifically for their durability, spill-proof construction, and ability to perform across wide temperature ranges — critical in Antarctica, where conditions are unforgiving and resupply opportunities are limited. Sealed AGM models also eliminate the need for routine watering and minimizes ventilation requirements, making it ideal for heritage buildings like those at Port Lockroy. Additionally, they’re fully recyclable and will be removed and sent for recycling when they reach end of life.

While lithium technologies are often discussed for renewable storage, they require heated enclosures to operate efficiently in extreme cold. That added energy demand and infrastructure can be impractical in remote polar sites. Our AGM batteries offer a robust, proven alternative — reliable, safe to transport, and well-suited to extreme environments.

This project demonstrates how modern battery technology can support conservation goals while reducing environmental impact. By pairing solar generation with resilient energy storage, Port Lockroy now operates more quietly and sustainably than ever before.

We are honored that our batteries are helping keep the lights on at the bottom of the world — powering preservation, research, and history in one of the planet’s most extraordinary locations.