SPIN members Zurich Airport and Synhelion have signed an offtake agreement for solar fuel. From 2027, Zurich Airport will purchase 30,000 litres of solar diesel from Synhelion every year from 2027. (Synhelion’s product, based on Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis produces a mixture of jet fuel, diesel, petrol and other carbon hydrates.)

In a first step this will be used to operate the passenger buses on the airport site. Later on special vehicles without an electric drive will be powered by solar diesel. The contract with aterm of five years builds on the existing partnership between the two companies, which has existed since 2020. By committing to the use of Synhelion’s solar fuels, Zurich Airport is helping to shape the future of cleaner aviation.

Solar Fuels: A Game-Changer for Aviation

Synhelion, a leading Swiss company in solar fuels, has developed innovative technology to produce synthetic fuels using solar energy. These fuels are not only carbon-neutral but are also fully compatible with existing aviation infrastructure. By capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and combining it with green hydrogen, Synhelion creates sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), diesel and petrol which reduce emissions without compromising performance and can be used in any conventional engine.

Zurich Airport’s Commitment

As one of Europe’s key aviation hubs, Zurich Airport is taking proactive steps to reduce its environmental footprint. The offtake agreement ensures that a portion of Synhelion’s solar fuel production will be delivered to Zurich Airport in the future, supporting its long-term sustainability goals. This aligns perfectly with global efforts to defossilize the aviation industry and meet the sector’s ambitious net-zero targets.

The Path to Climate-Neutral Air Travel

Synthetic fuels, such as those produced by Synhelion, are vital for achieving climate neutrality in aviation. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, solar fuels are created using renewable energy, making them a sustainable solution that addresses one of the aviation industry’s biggest challenges: CO₂ emissions.

Zurich Airport’s partnership with Synhelion is a strong signal to politics that sustainable technologies are ready to scale. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between technology innovators and industry leaders to bring solutions like solar fuels to market.

And it is a clear statement that Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) running on solar fuel or eFuels are just as climate neutral as Battery Electric Vehicles if their fuel is produced with renewable energy like sun, wind or water.

SPIN and the Future of Power-to-X

At SPIN, we recognize the critical role Power-to-X technologies play in driving forward a clean energy transition. Solar fuels are a prime example of how renewable energy can be converted into valuable products like SAF. This project reflects the innovation and potential within Power-to-X solutions to revolutionize not just aviation, but other energy-intensive sectors as well.

We look forward to seeing Synhelion and Zurich Airport take this collaboration to the next level. This partnership is a clear demonstration that the aviation industry is embracing innovative, sustainable solutions—and that a climate-neutral future is within reach.

However, as discussed during SPIN DAY 2024, there are still many obstacles to overcome before humanity will see large productions of solar fuel. We need to work on regulations that acknowledge the fact that only the energy input defines climate neutrality, not the engine technology. They should be based on the fact that there are areas on this planet where we can harvest huge amounts of energy for Power-to-X and Sun-to-X without any competition to other applications. We do not have an energy problem but an energy-distribution problem, which can be solved through Sun/Power-to-X.

Last but not least we have to establish more trust and confidence between the finance, production, technology and political sectors and the offtakers.

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