Synhelion fuels first construction machine with renewable diesel

Zurich, May 13, 2026 

Cleantech company Synhelion has fueled an excavator operated by Swiss construction company Eberhard Bau AG with renewable diesel for the first time. The deployment at the Brüttener Tunnel construction site near Bassersdorf (Zurich) demonstrates that synthetic fuels perform reliably even under demanding conditions.

The renewable synthetic diesel comes from Synhelion’s DAWN plant in Jülich, Germany, which has been producing fuels at industrial scale since 2024. With this first delivery, the two Swiss companies send an important signal for the sustainable transformation of the construction industry.

A solution for machinery that is difficult to electrify
Heavy construction machines are difficult to electrify due to their high energy demands. On construction sites, with rough terrain and typically limited infrastructure, liquid fuels therefore remain the most practical solution.
Synhelion’s renewable diesel delivers the same performance as conventional diesel while reducing net CO₂ emissions by up to 100%. As a drop-in fuel, it can be used in existing engines without any technical modifications, as demonstrated by its application in Eberhard Bau AG’s excavator. Starting in 2027, the leading Swiss construction company will source larger volumes of Synhelion’s diesel.

“Our employees operate heavy construction machinery under demanding conditions. What matters most is performance and reliability. This first deployment of Synhelion’s diesel shows that renewable fuels work seamlessly in day-to-day construction operations,” says Silvan Eberhard, Head of Logistics at Eberhard Unternehmungen.

Another real-world use for sustainable fuels
The first operation of an excavator powered by renewable diesel is another example of the wide range of applications for Synhelion’s fuels. The cleantech company has already demonstrated the viability of renewable jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline in aviation, maritime, and road transportation.

“Machines in the construction and infrastructure sectors will continue to rely on liquid fuels for a long time to come,” says Philipp Furler, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Synhelion. “Renewable fuels offer a realistic and immediately deployable solution to reduce emissions in this sector. To make a real contribution to net-zero emissions, it is now crucial to scale up our technology in order to bring down production costs.”

DAWN is Synhelion’s first industrial plant that integrates all of the company’s innovations for producing renewable fuels. With this demonstration plant, Synhelion has validated its technology at industrial scale, proving its readiness for large-scale deployment.

For the full English press release, see here.
For the full German press release, see here.

Further information as well as image and video material can be found in our press kit.

View press kit