IT looks like a Bond baddie's lair or something out of Thunderbirds - and it is all being powered by a team from Glasgow.

IT looks like a Bond baddie's lair or something out of Thunderbirds - and it is all being powered by a team from Glasgow.

This is the new polar station built on the South Pole by the International Polar Foundation.

The multi-million pound space-age building will become the home and laboratory for scientists studying the earth's atmosphere and piecing together information on weather and climate change.

It is built from materials used in space shuttle flights that can cope with temperatures of -60 degrees Celsius.

And the equipment used to keep the lights on and scientists warm comes from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

Wind Turbine manufacturer Proven Energy have installed eight windmills at the site which will power everything from kettles to laptops. The turbines are worth around £300,000.

And it is a worldwide first. Until now, structures at the South Pole have been powered by diesel engines but new laws mean it has to be environmentally friendly. It is the first "zero emission" station.

The Belgian team behind the Princess Elisabeth Station asked Proven, set up by Gordon Proven 25 years ago, to provide the power.

Mark Connonlly, of Proven, said: "This is a massive coup for us.

"The turbines that are going out there aren't much different from the ones Gordon Proven built 25 years ago to cope with the temperatures and the winds of Scotland, and here they are, being used in Antarctica.

"From East Kilbride to the South Pole is quite a journey!"

The turbines, designed and built in Scotland, will operate in average winds of 53mph and winter gusts of more than 200mph.

Mark said: "As long as there is wind, our turbines can generate the energy to power anything."