Audi’s research facility in Dresden has claimed to have developed high-quality diesel fuel which is climate neutral from water, CO2 and renewable energy.
The pilot plant, operated by Audi’s project -partner Sunfire, began producing batches of the e-diesel last week. The facility uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen as well as converting CO2 into carbon monoxide. The hydrogen and carbon monoxide are then combined to form hydrocarbons.
The plant is operated purely on electricity generated from wind, solar PV and hydro, with the CO2 supplied from a biogas facility – making the produced fuel ‘climate neutral’, according to Sunfire. The companies estimate that the e-diesel will cost between €1-1.50 per litre, depending on the electricity price. The companies estimate that the e-diesel plant is capable of producing over 3,000 litres of e-diesel “over the coming months”. Sunfire added that it hopes to boost the factory to an industrial scale over the coming years.
German federal minister of education and research, Professor Johanna Wanka is a proponent of the technology, using the first five litres of e-diesel from the plant to power her ministerial car. “This synthetic diesel, made using CO2, is a huge success for our sustainability research. If we can make widespread use of CO2 as a raw material, we will make a crucial contribution to climate protection and the efficient use of resources, and put the fundamentals of the ‘green economy’ in place,” explained Wanka.
Reiner Mangold, head of sustainable product development at Audi, added: “In developing Audi e-diesel we are promoting another fuel based on CO2 that will allow long‑distance mobility with virtually no impact on the climate. Using CO2 as a raw material represents an opportunity not just for the automotive industry in Germany, but also to transfer the principle to other sectors and countries.”