As part of its initiative to offset CO2 emissions and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, Porsche is contemplating the integration of a Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant into its eFuel pilot production site in Chile. This move forms part of the automaker’s endeavors to combat climate change and create a sustainable future.
The DAC plant would function by extracting CO2 from the air to be utilized in the production of eFuel. The process would rely on renewable energy sources like wind power, which is generated at the Haru Oni site in Chile. This innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions involves the purification of air, followed by the extraction of CO2 in a highly concentrated form, which is then stored in special tanks. The by-products of this process include water that is drained off.
The extracted CO2, apart from being utilized for eFuel production, can also serve as a raw material for the manufacture of non-fossil plastics and long-term CO2 storage. Additionally, it can be used in the creation of fully synthetic fuels, offering a wide range of applications for this sustainable initiative.
In line with this strategy, Porsche is investing in the Swiss start-up Climeworks, which specializes in direct air capture technology. The partnership seems to be fruitful as evidenced by a pilot project in Iceland, backed by both Porsche and Climeworks. The project has been successful in filtering 4,000 metric tons of CO2 from the air annually. The captured CO2 is mineralized and permanently stored in the ground, thereby removing it from the atmosphere.
Climeworks, the Swiss company, has developed a technology that harnesses renewable energy to extract CO2 from the air, converting it into synthetic petrol. This advancement could potentially benefit existing petrol cars, offering a pathway towards sustainable fuel without the need for vehicle replacement.
However, the process of creating synthetic fuel is not without its challenges. The high cost of capturing CO2 and the need for more renewable energy compared to charging electric vehicles makes it less efficient. Despite these hurdles, the initiative taken by Porsche and Climeworks is a step in the right direction towards reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable future.
