The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Ecotravel
Zodiac boats of Antarctica21’s Magellan Explorer cruise will operate on synthetic gasoline produced with the strong winds of Patagonia. Photographer Veronica Ibanezr. Image courtesy HIF Global.
Greener landings on the ‘White Continent’
By Tiffany West
Briefly …
As Antarctic tourism looks for ways to tread more lightly, operator Antarctica21 has renewed its partnership with e-Fuels pioneer HIF Global, powering its Zodiac landing boats with synthetic gasoline made using Patagonian wind. The initiative offers a rare glimpse of how innovation, responsibility, and adventure might coexist at the far edges of the world.
Antarctica has long represented the edge of human exploration – vast, fragile, and uncompromising. Now, a quiet shift is underway as new technology begins to reshape how visitors move through one of the planet’s most delicate environments.
Antarctica21, a specialist operator known for its pioneering air-cruise expeditions to the White Continent, has renewed its partnership with global e-Fuels leader HIF Global, continuing the use of synthetic fuel to power its Zodiac landing boats. The move marks a notable step towards lower-emission exploration in Antarctica, and a rare example of innovation reaching even the world’s most remote tourism frontiers.
The collaboration sees Antarctica21’s fleet of 10 Zodiac boats operating on e-Gasoline produced at HIF’s Haru Oni facility in Punta Arenas, Chile. Created using green hydrogen and recycled carbon dioxide, the fuel is designed to significantly reduce emissions without requiring any modifications to existing engines, a critical factor in extreme environments where reliability is non-negotiable.
For Antarctica21, the initiative places the company at the forefront of sustainable polar tourism. It is currently the first and only Antarctic tourism operator using e-Fuel for shore landings, setting a precedent within an industry that has historically faced challenges in reducing its environmental footprint.
“… the first and only Antarctic tourism operator using e-Fuel for shore landings, setting a precedent within an industry that has historically faced challenges in reducing its environmental footprint.”
Zodiac boats play a vital role in Antarctic expeditions, ferrying guests from ship to shore for landings, wildlife encounters, and guided walks. While small in scale, these operations occur repeatedly throughout each voyage, making their cumulative impact meaningful. Transitioning to synthetic fuel offers a tangible way to reduce emissions at a critical point in the visitor experience.
HIF’s Haru Oni facility in Punta Arenas, Chile. Image courtesy HIF Global.
HIF Global’s e-Fuels are produced by capturing CO₂ and combining it with green hydrogen generated using renewable energy, in this case the powerful winds of Patagonia. The result is a synthetic fuel compatible with existing combustion engines, offering a practical solution for sectors where electrification or alternative propulsion remains difficult.
According to HIF Latam CEO Víctor Turpaud, the renewed collaboration reflects continuity and ambition. He describes e-Fuels as a real, deployable solution for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, with regional tourism playing a role in driving innovation on a global scale.
Antarctica21 CEO Verónica Peragallo echoes that sentiment, noting that the partnership reinforces the company’s responsibility to protect one of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems. Beyond Zodiac operations, Antarctica21 is also evaluating the future use of synthetic marine diesel for its ship’s main engines, as well as synthetic aviation fuel, a potentially significant development given the company’s reliance on charter flights as part of its air-cruise model.
Importantly, the shift is not happening behind the scenes alone. Travellers onboard Antarctica21 expeditions are introduced to the concept of e-Fuels during their journey, learning how the technology works and why it matters. The message is clear: the experience is not just about witnessing Antarctica, but about exploring it with the lightest possible footprint while supporting emerging energy solutions.
“… the experience is not just about witnessing Antarctica, but about exploring it with the lightest possible footprint while supporting emerging energy solutions.”
For adventure travellers increasingly conscious of the impact of their journeys, this approach signals a broader evolution in expedition travel. While no visit to Antarctica is impact-free, initiatives like this suggest that meaningful progress is possible, even at the end of the world.
As polar tourism continues to grow, the choices made now may shape how future generations encounter the White Continent. In this case, innovation powered by Patagonian winds is helping to ensure that exploration and responsibility can move forward together.
Tiffany West is The Solo Traveller Group’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead.