Haru Oni: Base camp of the future

Together, here at the very ends of the earth, we have succeeded in building the world’s first integrated, commercial, industrial-scale hydrogen plant for making synthetic climate-neutral fuels. From this remote outpost we can continue to explore the future of fuel from wind and water. So, the question is, where next?

Keep exploring

“Haru Oni isn’t just a facility in the middle of nowhere. It’s the start of a journey to deep decarbonization. Located at a place with a privileged abundance of the natural forces of wind. From this base we can continue to explore the future.”

Markus Speith, Siemens Energy project lead of Haru Oni

The question on the lips of every explorer who ever lived. And it’s no different for the crew at Haru Oni. Yes, the facility is up and running and producing eFuel from the wind, but we have more exploring to do. How can we improve efficiency? How can we unlock the full potential of green hydrogen? Does Haru Oni have a future beyond eFuels? We don’t know all the answers yet, but we’re working on it.

Scaling

To decarbonize mobility, industrial quantities and attractive prices for green fuels are crucial. This requires rapid scaling of production capacity. "Haru Oni" is doing pioneering work here, can expand to up to 550 million liters eFuel and can serve as a model for many other regions worldwide.

eMethanol

Instead of the usual production from fossil sources, synthetic methanol can be produced in a Power-to-X process from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured from air or biogenic sources. It can serve as an energy carrier or to produce other fuels as well as a basic feedstock for numerous chemical products and has great potential to decarbonize the shipping industry.

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Gasoline, Diesel & Kerosene

Methanol can be converted into synthetic fuels like gasoline, diesel, or kerosene. These eFuels are highly relevant for reducing CO₂-emissions of road transport, shipping, and aviation. Using existing infrastructures (distribution, filling stations), this sector’s deep decarbonization is expected to come from these carbon-neutral eFuels.

Geography

The renewable energy potential of a region can make the difference: Up to 70 percent full-load hours - about three times as many as in Europe - can be used to generate green electricity in southern Chile. The wind energy is stored in liquid eFuels, which are easy to transport and can thus be brought from a windy region to an energy-hungry one.

One location, many possibilities to explore

The Haru Oni project demonstrates a broad spectrum of innovative, climate-relevant technologies at one location.

Synthetic fuel is produced from water, wind energy and biogenic CO₂. It is a liquid energy carrier that creates about 90% less CO₂ emissions than the fossil counterpart. In case of eGasoline, it is simultaneously compatible with existing liquid fuel infrastructure.

Start exploration

“It’s important to keep in mind that hydrogen based eFuels are part of a much bigger energy transition picture and shouldn’t be considered in isolation. It could be an opportunity for fossil fuel exporters to help diversify their economies and develop new export industries.”

Clara Bowman, COO HIF Global

Personal bulletins from the explorers at the base camp of the future

As explorers working at the very outer reaches of what’s known, we never know when the next breakthrough will come. But if you follow our on-the-spot diaries, you’ll get the latest updates from Haru Oni as they happen.

Markus Speith’s Diary

It’s hard to believe that not so long ago this was all windswept grassland and Haru Oni was just an idea. But now here I am, writing this from the world’s first commercial, integrated eFuels plant. It makes me quite emotional looking back at our journey together so far. The partnerships that have helped us overcome all kinds of challenges. Of course, Haru Oni is about technology and innovation, but it’s also about human endeavor. That team spirit has grown over time and gives me confidence that we can continue exploring alternative fuels of the future.

Efficiency depends on geography

When it comes to efficiency in renewable power generation, location matters. Wind turbines in places with stronger winds, like the southern parts of Chile, operate much more efficiently. For example, 2 wind turbines at Haru Oni can create the same amount of eFuel as roughly 6 wind turbines in Germany.

It’s not the end of the road for petrol cars

Yet. Switching the global fleet of petrol cars to electric would leave a massive carbon footprint – and it wouldn’t happen overnight. So even though the number of new electric cars is growing significantly, there is still a large fleet of older cars that need to be fueled with gasoline.

The haves and have nots of natural resources

Thanks to an abundance of sun or wind, some regions can produce more power than they need locally. Whereas other regions, like in Europe, are hungry for more energy but simply don’t have the available space and resources to produce enough renewable power.

”Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”

Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922), Antarctic explorer and Secretary of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society

Boldness has been here before

Patagonia played a vital part in the Antarctic expedition of famed explorer Ernest Shackleton. It was from here, in 1916, that he launched the courageous rescue mission to save his shipwrecked crew. As an example of ambition, leadership and determination, Shackleton takes some following. But a century later, that's what we've done.

eFuels are generally a great solution to emission reduction today as they can replace fossil fuels without the need to change existing engines, storage, and distribution systems
eFuels are very convenient for transportation purposes compared to hydrogen in its natural form
gasoline is only one possible product of the plant, there will be more in the future like e-methanol for shipping or e-kerosene for aviation
plus: there is up to three times more energy we can harvest from a wind turbine compared to German locations. Energy which would be wasted if we wouldn't convert it into an easy transportable and storable medium
not only see the Haru Oni project from the perspective of the mobility sector (automotive, shipping, aviation) but also see the Hydrogen economy as a whole

Filling the first tank

Remember the date: 20th of December 2022. A momentous day in the energy transition and fight against climate change. The first tank was filled with climate-neutral eFuel produced by world’s first integrated commercial plant. Soon Haru Oni will be producing 130 000 liters of eFuel a year – this will increase up to 550 million liters in the years to come.

Is your region ready?

The Energy Transition Readiness Index is an in-depth study that evaluates our progress towards the full transformation of the energy system and boils this down to a single “readiness” figure. It differs from region to region. But all these figures have one thing in common: They are much lower than they should be.

The global energy transition readiness report shows it´s time to get real.

Get the global report now

”Our involvement in the world’s first commercial, integrated eFuels plant supports the development of the alternative fuels of the future. By using them, we can make a further contribution toward protecting the climate.”

Dr. Oliver Blume, CEO Porsche AG

Transporting new renewable energy from regions with sun and wind in abundance to regions that are energy-hungry requires different expertise to be smartly combined.