Synhelion’s first industrial-scale renewable fuel plant

About DAWN

DAWN, our first industrial demonstration fuel plant, has been fully operational since 2024. The plant integrates all of Synhelion’s proprietary innovations for renewable fuel production. With DAWN, Synhelion has successfully validated its technology on an industrial scale, proving its readiness for large-scale deployment.

Located in Jülich, Germany, DAWN produces several thousand liters of renewable fuels per year. These fuels have been delivered to Synhelion’s customers and used in real-world applications across various transportation sectors.

Main specifications

Status
Plant DAWN is operational and producing fuels

Products
Renewable jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline

Customers
Swiss International Air Lines and other key customers

Location
Brainergy Park Jülich, Germany

Financing
Financed by Synhelion +
EUR 3.92 M from BMWK

From DAWN to reality: our fuels in action

Together with our partners, we use the fuels of DAWN in real-world applications across multiple transportation sectors. Stay tuned for more updates to come.

Synhelion fuels passenger bus with renewable diesel

Synhelion and Zurich Airport have reached another milestone on the road to more sustainable transportation solutions: for the first time, a passenger bus at Zurich Airport has been fueled with Synhelion’s diesel from plant DAWN. Synhelion has thus proven that the technology is ready for deployment and the next phase of scaling.

Synhelion delivers SAF to SWISS

SWISS has become the first airline in the world to integrate the renewable fuel manufactured by Synhelion into its flight operations. The action marks a milestone for both partners on the journey to more sustainable aviation. Alternative fuels such as Synhelion’s SAF are crucial to the industry’s endeavors to achieve its ambitious carbon reduction objectives.

First car ride powered by Synhelion’s gasoline

Synhelion has fueled a car with its renewable gasoline for the first time ever – a global first for road transportation. The 1985 Audi Sport quattro, part of the AMAG Classic car collection, became the first vehicle in history to run on Synhelion’s gasoline produced at the industrial-scale plant DAWN in Germany.

Synhelion fuels steamboat with renewable diesel

For the first time ever, Synhelion has fueled a ship with its renewable diesel produced at plant DAWN. An over 110-year-old steamboat was fueled with Synhelion’s first barrel of renewable diesel. A milestone for more sustainable transportation on the water.

First motorcycle ride powered by Synhelion’s gasoline

For the first time ever, Synhelion has fueled a vehicle with its renewable fuel – a historic step toward net zero. And it wasn’t just any vehicle: Professor Aldo Steinfeld, the visionary behind the technology, rode his Harley-Davidson powered by Synhelion’s gasoline from plant DAWN.

How DAWN produces fuel

At DAWN, we have incorporated two of Synhelion’s technological pathways to produce renewable fuels. Renewable energy is converted into high-temperature process heat beyond 1’200°C. At DAWN, this heat is generated either by renewable power from a PV field through an electric heater, or by heliostats that direct the solar radiation onto a solar receiver.

Part of the generated heat is fed into the thermochemical reactor that produces syngas, a mixture of H₂ and CO. The syngas is then processed into fuels, such as jet fuel, gasoline, or diesel, using standard gas-to-liquid technology. The other part of the heat is saved in the thermal energy storage to enable continuous 24/7 operation.

Updates of plant DAWN

Plant DAWN exceeds expectations

April 2025 | Plant DAWN has been producing fuel since late summer 2024. Just a few months after commissioning, DAWN is operating close to nameplate capacity. Industrial-scale renewable fuel production at DAWN has proven and de-risked our technology and demonstrated that the technology and the company are ready for commercial fuel production.

Three Synhelion solar fuel barrels at plant DAWN in Jülich, Germany.

Plant DAWN produces fuel

September 2024 | Synhelion has reached a crucial milestone in the commissioning of DAWN. Plant DAWN is operational and has successfully produced synthetic crude oil, achieving the plant’s primary goal of producing renewable fuel. The syncrude can be refined in existing refineries into carbon-neutral kerosene, diesel, and gasoline.

Inauguration of plant DAWN

June 2024 | Synhelion inaugurated DAWN, the world’s first industrial-scale plant to produce synthetic fuels using renewable heat. By inaugurating DAWN, Synhelion proves that the technology to produce sustainable fuels is ready for large scaling. The renewable fuels will demonstrate the technology’s potential to defossilize the transportation sector.