Swiss Startup Taps the Sun to Make Diesel --- Synhelion says that using solar power to make fuel could help decarbonize shipping

 

"Swiss clean-energy startup Synhelion has used solar-made diesel [1] to power a steamboat, demonstrating a potential means of decarbonizing shipping and aviation.

 

The Lake Lucerne Navigation Co. used Synhelion's solar diesel to power a 110-year-old steamboat across Switzerland's Lake Lucerne, which Synhelion says is a world first.

 

The company used the fuel to heat water in tanks to generate steam to power the vessel.

 

"For us s a nice showcase but really this is just the starting point," said Philipp Furler, chief executive of Synhelion.

 

The company is aiming to create sustainable fuels for the shipping and aviation industries. The Lake Lucerne test was simply a proof of concept, the company said.

 

"Global shipping is really the target here. They will require sustainable marine fuels," Furler said.

 

Synhelion converts concentrated solar energy into high-temperature heat energy. That heat is used to turn carbon dioxide and methane sourced from agricultural waste into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Molecules of those gases can then be combined to produce longer hydrocarbons such as diesel, which can then be used as a fuel source.

 

Crucially, the fuel can be used without the need to modify existing fossil-fuel engine types.

 

Biofuels that can be used in existing engines are referred to as "drop in" fuels. The company is looking at shipping, aviation and road transport as markets where its fuels could be deployed.

 

Synhelion says that by using its solar fuel, an estimated 80% of greenhouse-gas emissions could be saved over the course of a journey, based on life-cycle assessments.

 

The transport industry accounts for between one-fifth and one-quarter of global greenhouse-gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. Every sector within it is looking at ways to decarbonize.

 

The International Maritime Organization recently approved a legally binding framework for shippers to reduce their emissions.

 

The IMO's framework pushes vessel operators to source green fuels, with volumes rising over time, or balance their emissions through credits.

 

Meanwhile, the aviation sector's Corsia carbon credit system has been developed to offset the sector's emissions, as access to sustainable aviation fuel rises over time. Currently, volumes of SAF remain limited, though legislation in jurisdictions like Europe have made it mandatory for airlines to source green fuels, with volumes again rising over time.

 

Synhelion expects the shipping industry will need 24 million metric tons of sustainable liquid fuel by 2050, while aviation will require 192 million tons by the same date.

 

Daniel Rudisuli, an investor in Synhelion and board member, said his family office, Swiss KMU Partners, made its initial investment four years ago because it saw a large demand for sustainable fuels and it felt the technology was scalable.

 

"The market is just there, customers are there. It's just 'Can you scale up and create the value needed by the market?'" Rudisuli said.

 

So far Synhelion has raised 90 million Swiss francs, equivalent to $107 million, and is producing its solar fuels from a pilot commercial plant in Julich, Germany. It is exploring its next plant to scale up production in places like Spain, Morocco and Oman, areas with abundant renewable energy resources.

 

"Now it's about scaling up, which is capex intensive," said Furler. "This is currently a challenge, we need capital to do that."" [2]

 

 

1. Synthetic fuel production is energy-intensive and expensive, requiring significant electricity to produce, leading to higher costs compared to traditional fossil fuels. Additionally, while synthetic fuels can reduce CO2 emissions, they are not as efficient as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and require a large amount of electricity to power, according to Forbes. 

 

Here's a more detailed look at the disadvantages of synthetic fuels:

    High Production Costs:

    Synthetic fuel production is currently more expensive than traditional fossil fuels, primarily due to the high energy input required.

Energy Inefficiency:

Synthetic fuels are less energy efficient than BEVs, requiring more electricity to power a combustion engine than a BEV.

Infrastructure Development:

The infrastructure for synthetic fuel production and distribution is not yet fully developed, and significant investment will be needed to scale up production.

CO2 Emission Reduction:

While synthetic fuels can reduce CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuels, they don't eliminate them completely, and their impact on climate change is still debated.

Potential for Higher Pricing:

The high production costs and potential for infrastructure bottlenecks could lead to higher prices for consumers.

Limited Availability:

The availability of synthetic fuels is still limited, and they are not yet widely available for general use.

Environmental Impact:

Even if produced using renewable energy, synthetic fuels still contribute to air pollution through combustion emissions.

Competition with battery electric vehicles (BEVs):

As BEVs become more prevalent and efficient, synthetic fuels face competition as a viable alternative for decarbonizing transportation.

 

2. Swiss Startup Taps the Sun to Make Diesel --- Synhelion says that using solar power to make fuel could help decarbonize shipping. Khan, Yusuf.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 19 May 2025: B8.