KOHLER, Wis. — On Jan. 10, Robert Swan successfully completed his 2023 Undaunted Expedition across the Antarctic landmass to the Geographic South Pole relying solely on renewable energy sources sponsored by Kohler. 

Kohler equipped Swan’s journey with a customized generator that utilizes a Kohler diesel engine fueled by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The fuel is 90% carbon neutral and sourced entirely from waste products, making it part of a circular economy. HVO is a high-quality replacement of fossil diesel made from waste vegetable oils and other sustainable materials. It allows generator users to adopt low-carbon, renewable energy without compromise on performance.

The off-grid sustainable system provided the energy needed to operate Swan’s base camp and battery charge to his mobile equipment. The integrated energy system was controlled by Heila EDGE, a modular, decentralized energy platform from Heila Technologies (part of Kohler Co.) that connects and optimizes solar arrays, batteries, and other distributed energy resources, creating a resilient microgrid solution. 

Kohler’s portfolio of energy products is built to withstand harsh weather conditions and provide reliable, resilient power when the grid cannot, making them a dependable energy solution for Swan. Kohler has a proven history of resilient power solutions that have survived the unforgiving terrain of the south pole — more than 90 years ago, Adm. Richard Byrd powered his Antarctic journey with Kohler generators, and they were his only means to communicate back to the civilized world. Swan and Kohler’s partnership on the Undaunted Expedition honors the progress of resilient, clean energy solutions and celebrates future possibilities of helping to control climate change and preserve the planet.

Swan characterizes himself as a modern-day explorer and is the only human to have walked to both the north and south poles, celebrating the completion this trip 37 years after his first. He has dedicated his life’s work to the preservation of Antarctica and the planet through promoting renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change through his 2041 Foundation.