Chile is on the verge of becoming a world-leading exporter of green hydrogen production with the opening of the Haru Oni plant, owned by Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF). It is scheduled to begin operation in March 2023. Haru Oni, the biggest green hydrogen facility in Latin America, has set its sights on producing and exporting synthetic gasoline based on green hydrogen.
The company aims to leverage its cutting-edge technology to become a leading player in the emerging green energy market. With its commitment to sustainable practices and a focus on innovation, Haru Oni is poised to drive the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future in the region and beyond.
The construction of the plant began in 2021, and by the end of 2022, the first litres of green hydrogen-based synthetic gasoline had been delivered. This milestone marks a significant step in the transition towards replacing fossil fuels. Haru Oni's move towards green hydrogen-based synthetic gasoline underscores the growing importance of renewable energy sources and their role in shaping a more environmentally conscious global economy.
Haru Oni is a demonstration plant that has the capacity to produce 350 tonnes of crude methanol and 130,000 litres of ecological gasoline per year using wind energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) extracted from the atmosphere. The plant aims to support the energy transition by providing environmentally friendly fuel that reduces particulate matter emissions by 90%.
HIF Global General Manager, Clara Bowman, believes that Haru Oni's innovative product can displace conventional gasoline derived from oil, coal, or natural gas, without the need to convert existing vehicles. The new fuel is a 93-octane gasoline that is chemically identical to conventional benzene but free of impurities.
The project, based in the city of Punta Arenas in Chile's Magallanes region, is ideal for installing turbines to capitalise on winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour to generate a commercial and sustainable product. The Magallanes region in Chile could produce 13% of the world's green hydrogen, while annual wind-electric generation could exceed the national matrix sevenfold, according to Chile's Ministry of Energy.
The Latin American nation aims to lead the world in the production of green hydrogen by 2050, a gas that could contribute between 17% and 27% of the reductions needed to achieve carbon neutrality in 30 years. Siemens Energy, the company driving the project, plans to increase the production of environmentally neutral fuel to 55 million litres per year in 2024 and more than 550 million in 2026. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the transport sector has the highest reliance on fossil fuels of any sector and accounts for 37% of CO2 emissions from end‐use sectors. DGB has a strategic 50% stake in Green Fuel Investments B.V. to drive reforestation and carbon offsetting efforts: the Pongamia tree produces a fossil fuel substitute.
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