Porsche: Fuel comes from the lab

These are liquid fuels that can be produced synthetically from water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2).

With them, combustion engines can be operated in an almost CO2-neutral manner. This is because only as much CO2 is emitted as was previously extracted from the atmosphere for production.

However, the electrical power required for production must come from renewable energy sources.

Building block in the new drive strategy
Intensive research is currently being conducted into such fuels. For Porsche, too, e-fuels represent an important building block in its future drive strategy. After all, in addition to electric models, optimized combustion engines are also part of the Stuttgart-based company's drive range.

It makes sense to produce e-fuels on-site at energy-rich locations with purpose-built power generation.

The Haru Oni pilot project in the province of Magallanes is being driven by Porsche and Siemens Energy. It uses the wind conditions in southern Chile to generate climate-neutral fuel with the help of green wind power.

Target is 550 million liters per year
In the pilot phase, around 130,000 liters of e-fuels are to be produced as early as 2022. In two steps, capacity will then be increased to around 55 million liters per year by 2024 and to around 550 million liters by 2026.

Siemens Energy, Porsche and Chilean energy company AME signed a memorandum of understanding to advance joint development of industrial scaling beyond the pilot phase.

Porsche is the main customer for the green fuel. Other partners in the project are the mineral oil company ENAP from Chile and the Italian energy company Enel.

For the time being for racing cars and testing
Porsche is investing around 20 million euros in the company. The company plans to use the green fuel initially in racing cars and for vehicle testing. Later, production models will also run on it.

porsche.ch
siemens-energy.com/press