Life on Mars is looking more viable each day. A new study based on a NASA climate model suggests that using wind energy is a viable way to power human missions to the Red Planet. The NASA research team says that wind turbines could be installed to operate independently or in combination with either solar or nuclear energy, even though winds on Mars produce less force due to low atmospheric density.
NASA has an energy option to sustain life on Mars
NASA’s Ames Mars Global Climate Model (MGCM) was used to calculate the short-term and seasonal variability of wind power that would be generated by turbines on Mars. The MGCM is a complex simulation developed by the Ames Research Center that studies the climate on the planet’s surface and predicts atmospheric behavior in terms of weather patterns, temperature, winds, and seasonal changes.
There are many factors to consider when planning crewed missions to Mars, and site selection is critical. Previous viability studies have focused on access to physical resources, such as water availability or locations for shelter, but not all of them have taken power generation into account.
Extensive research has been conducted on solar and nuclear electricity options on Mars, but there are complications and limitations to both. Nuclear solutions are risky in terms of safety, whereas solar electricity systems lack the storage capacity to cover dips in generation due to the cycles of day and night, dust storms, and seasonal variation. These challenges mean that other alternatives must be considered, such as wind.
The wind is less forceful on Mars, but it’s still viable for power generation
Until now, wind on Mars has not been considered strong enough to make electricity production viable from an efficiency point of view. The planet’s low atmospheric density means that air movement carries significantly less force than it does on Earth, which has a thick density.
However, the NASA research team, led by Victoria Hartwick, has challenged this assumption, putting forward that wind energy could make up for the diurnal and seasonal fluctuations in solar power generation. This applies to whatever dips in output occur in whichever energy production method is chosen. During dust storms, for example, wind power output increases significantly, meaning that peak generation times could be taken advantage of. Hartwick explained:
“We were surprised to find that, despite Mars’ thin atmosphere, winds are still strong enough to produce power across large portions of the Martian surface.”
A combined system is the best option for electricity generation
NASA’s team has been considering a hypothetical system combining solar panels with an Enercon E33 wind turbine. The E33 is already commercially available, meaning that new infrastructure and technology wouldn’t have to be developed. The E33’s rotor has a diameter of around 108 feet and its output on Earth is 330 kW. On Mars, Hartwick and her colleagues calculate that the turbine could generate an average power output of about 10 kW.
The NASA team has found that out of 50 proposed Mars landing sites, 40 of them have viable wind speeds. At three, wind speeds could generate 24 kW, which is what’s required to support a six-person crew, for more than 35% of the year. At seven others, wind energy can supply more than 50% of the total power needed either during winter months or during prolonged dust storms. Hartwick is satisfied that her team’s research has contributed valuable insight into viable settlement locations and concrete solutions to Mars’ vital energy considerations:
“This means some really scientifically interesting regions that might have previously been disregarded due to energy limitations might be accessible to human missions if wind turbines can be utilized.”