Porsche has teamed up with global firms and Chilean operating company, Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF), to commence the industrial production of synthetic fuels. The “Haru Oni” pilot plant located in Punta Arenas, Chile, has been officially inaugurated, and members of the Porsche Executive Board have carried out the first ceremonial refueling of a Porsche 911 with synthetic fuel produced at the facility. These eFuels are generated using wind power, ensuring CO2-neutral operation of gasoline engines.
Barbara Frenkel, the Member of the Executive Board for Procurement at Porsche AG, has confirmed the company’s dedication to a double-e path: e-mobility and eFuels as complementary technologies. The use of eFuels leads to a decrease in CO2 emissions, and Porsche aims to advance the industrial production of synthetic fuels globally, with the eFuels pilot plant leading the way.
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Porsche’s pilot phase for eFuel production intends to produce 130,000 liters annually, with the fuel initially utilized in pilot projects such as the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and at Porsche Experience Centers. The project in Chile will expand to produce 55 million liters per year by the mid-2020s, with a projected capacity of 550 million liters after two years. The eFuel production location in the south of Chile, Punta Arenas, offers optimal wind conditions.
The company has set a target of achieving a CO2-neutral balance sheet across the entire value chain by 2030, including a CO2-neutral usage phase for future all-electric models. Synthetic fuels complement electromobility and are part of the company’s sustainability strategy. Porsche has invested over $100 million in the development and production of eFuels, including $75 million in HIF Global LLC in April 2022. The company plans, constructs and runs eFuel plants in Chile, the United States, and Australia.
