Porsche examines the role of DAC Technology in eFuel manufacturing

ABU DHABI: While most automakers are ditching gas-powered vehicles and switching to electrified vehicles, Porsche is working hard to keep gas-powered engines alive. The brand has partnered with HIF Global (an eFuels company), Volkswagen Group Innovation, and MAN Energy Solutions to integrate a DAC facility into Chile's eFuels pilot plant. This DAC facility would extract essential CO2 from the surrounding environment and use it at the Haru Oni pilot plant to produce eFuels.

At the IAA summit, project planners were used to showcase how DAC aligns with Porsche's strategy. During the Summit, Porsche also presented its strategy of incorporating a DAC facility into the eFuels pilot plant in Chile.

The prime benefit of DAC technology is that it can accumulate CO2 anywhere there is access to renewable energy. The CO2 extracted during the process could also be used to produce non-fossil-based plastics. 

To capture CO2, impurities are removed from the air, and it is passed through a filter. The collected CO2 can be used as a raw material. It can also be used for eFuel manufacturing and non-fossil plastic production. HIF Global and Porsche are examining its benefits and applications at the Haru Oni eFuels plant. They are combining it with hydrogen to create methanol. 

In December 2022, HIF Global established its eFuels pilot plant to produce synthetic fuels for internal combustion engine vehicles, a nearly carbon-neutral operation. In the first phase, the company aims to manufacture approximately 130,000 litres of eFuel yearly. The produced eFuel will be used at Porsche Experience Centers in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

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