We turn sunlight into fuel.

And move the world toward net zero.

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About Synhelion and our technology

Synhelion is a clean energy company that has developed a unique technology to produce sustainable solar fuels from solar energy. Synhelion contributes to a net-zero transportation sector by replacing fossil fuels with carbon-neutral solar fuels. Our solar fuels close the carbon cycle and drive a world connected by clean, sustainable transportation.

More about us

The transportation industry emits 8 billion tons of CO2 per year. We work to get this number to zero.

synhelion - solar receiver - close-up

Solar fuels

Our solar fuels are sustainable fuels produced from solar energy. They are fully compatible with existing global fuel infrastructure and can directly replace fossil fuels. Solar fuels are carbon-neutral as they will only emit as much CO2 as was captured in their production.

Learn about solar fuels

Solar fuel plants

We are currently building the world’s first industrial solar fuel plant in Germany. By 2025, we aim to commission our first commercial solar fuel plant in Spain. The subsequent global roll-out of our technology will contribute to improved global energy security and independence from fossil fuel sources.

Explore our plants

Our technology

Synhelion uses solar heat to convert CO2 into solar fuels. Our solutions combine state-of-the-art solar tower systems with proprietary high-temperature thermochemical processes. Self-contained plants that operate independently from electrical grid infrastructure make our technology quickly and broadly scalable worldwide.

See how it works

Solar heat

Solar energy is the cheapest and most abundant renewable energy resource. We are the first company to sustainably generate process heat beyond 1’500°C with concentrated solar radiation. This makes it possible to drive industrial processes such as fuel production and cement manufacturing with solar heat for the first time.

Learn about solar heat

Our story

Reducing CO2 emissions is the greatest challenge of our time. We contribute to a net-zero transportation sector by replacing fossil fuels with carbon-neutral solar fuels. It all started with a crazy idea at ETH Zurich. What if we could reverse combustion? Currently, we are building the world’s first industrial solar fuel production plant, taking us closer to a world connected by clean and sustainable transportation.

Discover our journey

Our roadmap

2014

Proof of concept

After decades of top research at ETH Zurich, we produced the world’s first solar jet fuel from H2O and CO2 in the lab.

2019

Small-scale demonstration

We demonstrated our technology under real field conditions in the center of Zurich and produced the world’s first carbon-neutral fuels from air and sunlight.

2019

Medium-scale demonstration

Within the framework of the EU Horizon 2020 program, the Sun-to-Liquid project produced solar fuel at the Very High Concentration Solar Tower of IMDEA Energy in Móstoles, Spain.

2020

Full-scale demonstration of key components

We built a 250 kW prototype of our solar receiver and tested it at DLR Synlight. The receiver generated world record outlet temperatures beyond 1’500°C.

2022

Production of the world’s first solar syngas

Synhelion has reached the last decisive technical milestone for the industrial production of carbon-neutral solar fuels.

2023/2024

First industrial solar fuel plant

Plant DAWN demonstrates the solar fuel technology on an industrial scale. Located in Jülich, Germany, the plant will produce fuel batches for showcases.

2025/2026

First commercial solar fuel plant

Our first commercial plant will be built in Spain and will produce 1’000 tons of fuel per year.

2033

Global rollout

Ramp-up of production capacity to 1 million tons of fuel per year.
For example, this would cover half of the kerosene fueled in Switzerland.

2040

Toward net zero

Ramp-up of production capacity to 40 million tons of fuel per year.
For example, this would cover half of the kerosene fueled in Europe.

2050

Synhelion contributes substantially to a net-zero transportation sector.

Frequently asked questions

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