Audi to use Climeworks technology for CO2-neutral production of synthetic fuels

Climeworks provides solutions for efficiently capturing CO₂ out of ambient air. The ETH spin-off founded in 2009 offers a competitive and environmentally friendly CO₂ supply to its customers. Climeworks’ CO₂ enables the production of carbon-neutral renewable fuels allowing for efficient storage of renewable energies.

“Climeworks has created the first manmade system in the world able to extract CO₂ continuously from the air,” explains Dr. Hagen Seifert, who is Audi’s officer for carbon footprint, future materials and renewable energies. “We reckon that this idea holds enormous potential. A year ago, we entered into an exclusive cooperation with Climeworks that we now want to expand significantly.”

In an article on “Audi Encounter” Hagen Seifert explains why Climeworks is of interest to the German car manufacturer: “we at Audi have a very particular interest in this – we can make excellent use of it at our e-gas facility in Werlte.” The plant in Emsland in the Northern part of Germany produces synthetic methane (Audi e-gas), which serves as fuel for cars like the A3 Sportback g-tron. The hydrogen necessary for this is extracted from water via electrolysis using eco-electricity. CO₂, the second raw material, currently comes from a neighboring biogas facility; 2.7 kilograms are required to make one kilogram of e-gas. In future, Audi could generate the CO₂ itself. “With one large Climeworks facility, we would be able to cover the current CO₂ demand in Werlte,” reckons Seifert. “This would enable us to make around 1,500 cars CO₂-free.”

A process that cleans the air and is also an important element in the manufacture of synthetic fuels – “the Climeworks technology unites two great benefits,” says Dr. Hagen Seifert. “For us at Audi, this can become a central element on the path to CO₂-neutral mobility.”