Summary
The French-Australian cooperative project "Alternative Energy Systems for Antarctic Stations" was originally focused on a broad study of station needs and alternative energy options. It has evolved towards an integrated system combining knowledge and data management, on site monitoring and testing and the development of assessment and design tools. This provides a structure for the conduct of coordinated research work and a support environment for the provision of advice to the two nations Antarctic programs for forward planning as well as in response to specific, more immediate operational needs. The present paper describes the structure put in place and the methods and tools created to study, test and develop new energy solutions and illustrates them with case studies for Australian and French stations. It is a general paper presenting the project. The intention is to share the projects operational experience and outline methods potentially applicable to other stations and other Antarctic operators.