SWISS integrate Synhelion solar fuel into flight operations

Synhelion delivered a first 190 l bbl of synthetic crude oil from its DAWN production facility to a refinery in Northern Germany, where the oil, which had been manufactured using solar energy, was processed into certified Jet-A-1 aviation fuel. The fuel was then fed into SWISS’s flight operations infrastructure via the fuel supply system at Hamburg Airport, Germany.

The fuel supplied was around 7% of the fuel required for a Hamburg-Zurich flight – a symbolic start, but a significant one, confirming that Synhelion’s technology works and is ready for the next steps ahead. Its integration into existing refinery processes is crucial to securing the swift global scalability of Synhelion’s technology.

“This first delivery of Synhelion’s solar fuel marks a milestone in our long-standing partnership,” confirmed SWISS CEO, Jens Fehlinger. “We have intentionally invested in a Swiss startup; and we are delighted to celebrate this achievement together. This is the first time that solar fuel has been used in civil aviation.”

“Sustainable fuels are a key lever in reducing air transport’s reliance on fossil fuels,” added Synhelion Co-founder and Co-CEO, Philipp Furler. “Our delivery of this first barrel to SWISS may be a symbolic action. But it is a concrete one, too, towards a more sustainable aviation sector. This milestone brings us one step closer to globally scaling up our solar fuel technology.”

Next steps: certification and scale-up

Sustainable fuels such as Synhelion’s solar fuel are key if the aviation sector is to achieve its ambitious carbon reduction objectives. SWISS has been serving as a strategic partner to Synhelion since 2020 to support the commercialisation of the company’s technologies.

Further steps remain before solar fuel can be more extensively used in the aviation sector. The facilities required to ensure continuous production of the fuel and adequate production capacities are now being developed to permit a commercial market entry from 2027. The EU Renewable Energy Directive stipulates that sustainable synthetic fuels must achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 70% compared to fossil kerosene. The life cycle assessment carried out by an independent institution confirms that the fuels from the DAWN production facility can significantly exceed this target. As a next step, Synhelion and SWISS are now jointly driving forward the sustainability certification of the production process and the fuel in accordance with the requirements of the EU directive.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/25072025/swiss-integrate-synhelion-solar-fuel-into-flight-operations/