During the ‘E-Base Goes Live’ project in March 2009, Robert Swan and his small team lived at the E-Base in Antarctica for two weeks, relying completely on renewable energy. The LE-300 wind turbine was used to showcase using energy from the wind to generate electricity. Supplied in black, the LE-300 was able to absorb more sunlight melting any surface ice build up on the blades.

The LE-300's low weight made it easy to be installed on a guyed mast and robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions of the Antarctic.

Throughout the project, live text and video conference links with schools and organizations allowed Robert to showcase alternative energy sources in one of the harshest environments on the planet. Its purpose is to inspire a global audience to tackle the issue of climate change, by showing that when we achieve the seemingly impossible in Antarctica, we can all take small, achievable steps in our backyards.

With the support and vision of nPower, a UK-based utilities company, the E-Base is now run entirely off renewable energy, 365 days a year.