Audi steps up research into synthetic fuels

Audi has plans for a new pilot facility for the production of e-diesel. The energy needed will be supplied from a renewable source of hydropower. The planned facility will have a capacity of around 400,000 litres.

For some years now, Audi has been conducting research into climate-friendly, CO2-based fuels such as e-gas, e-gasoline or synthetically manufactured e-diesel fuel. The company is now taking the next step in e-diesel production.

Audi claims that e-diesel has the potential to make conventional combustion engines operate almost CO2-neutrally. To produce it, the power-to-liquid plant converts surplus hydropower into synthetic fuel. To achieve this, the green power generated on site in the hydroelectric power station produces hydrogen and oxygen from water by means of electrolysis. In the next step the hydrogen reacts with CO2, using a micro-process technology.

The CO2  used can be obtained from the atmosphere or from biogenous waste gases, and is the only source of carbon in the process. Long-chain hydrocarbon compounds are formed. In the final process step, these are separated into the end products - Audi e-diesel and waxes, which are put to use in other areas of industry.

Reiner Mangold, Head of sustainable product development at AUDI AG explains,  “At the project in Laufenburg, thanks to a new technology we are able to handle the production of e-diesel efficiently in compact units, making it more economical. The pilot facility offers scope for sector coupling, in other words combining the energy sectors power, heat and mobility, and makes it possible to store renewable energy.”

There are plans to produce the first quantities of e-diesel in Laufenburg as early as next year. Audi and the project partner companies - Ineratec and Energiedienst AG, will submit the planning application for the facility by the end of 2017.