Now, first-of-its-kind machine that converts water, CO2 into fuel

A new machine has been recently revealed the "first of its kind" machine that could turn water and carbon dioxide into the synthetic petroleum-based fuels.

German cleantech company Sunfire GmbH has unveiled a rig, which uses what it calls "Power-to-Liquid" technology to convert H2O and CO2 into liquid hydrocarbons; synthetic petrol, diesel and kerosene, CNet reported.

The technique has been based around the Fischer-Tropsch process developed in 1925, combined with solid oxide electrolyser cells (SOECs). The SOECs are used to convert electricity supplied by renewable sources such as wind and solar to steam. Oxygen is removed from this steam to produce hydrogen.

The rig, at this stage, is for demonstration and feasibility purposes; its capacity for CO2 recycling is currently at around 3.2 tonnes per day, and it has the capacity to produce a barrel of fuel per day.