Imagine lighting an Olympic-style flame 1,522 meters below sea level! China made history by harvesting and igniting the source flame from combustible ice on the South China Sea floor for the 15th National Games in Guangzhou. 🌊🔥
Sky-Sea Interconnection in Action 🚀🔌
Engineers deployed a deep-sea robot named Haima (Seahorse) equipped with a mechanical arm to collect natural gas hydrate, commonly known as combustible ice. This crystalline energy source forms under high pressure and low temperature, and just one cubic meter can release up to 164 cubic meters of methane gas.
Back on the mothership, solar panels converted sunlight into electricity, which traveled down a cable to power Haima’s igniter. The result? A spectacular source flame emerging from 1,522 meters beneath the waves, symbolizing a major leap in clean energy and marine tech. ⚡🤖
Why Combustible Ice Matters ❄️✨
Natural gas hydrate is often called the white gold of the 21st century. It’s a powerful, clean energy alternative that could help reduce carbon footprints worldwide. By turning deep-sea research into a public celebration, China showcases innovative paths to sustainable sports traditions and future energy solutions.
With this record-breaking flame, the upcoming National Games in Guangzhou will literally shine a light on the future of deep-sea technology and clean energy. Let the games begin! 🏅
Reference(s):
1,522 meters down: China ignites world's deepest Olympic style flame
cgtn.com
