Zurich Airport and Synhelion sign pioneering offtake agreement for solar fuel

Zurich Airport signed a long-term offtake agreement for renewable diesel with Synhelion, a Swiss cleantech company producing solar fuels. From 2027, Zurich Airport will purchase 30’000 liters of solar diesel from Synhelion every year. In a first step, this renewable diesel will be used to power the passenger buses on the airport premises. Later, special vehicles without electric drives will be powered by solar diesel. The five-year contract builds on the existing partnership between the two companies, which has been in place since 2020.

By signing the offtake agreement, Zurich Airport and Synhelion are sending a clear signal for more environmentally sustainable airport operations. The partnership launched in 2020 has now led to the offtake agreement. Zurich Airport will therefore use solar diesel in its own operations from 2027. Synhelion will produce the renewable fuels at its first commercial plant, RISE, in Spain. The plant uses solar energy to produce sustainable fuels that are fully compatible with the existing global fuel infrastructure and conventional internal combustion engines and aircraft engines. Synhelion’s solar fuels cut net CO2 emissions by up to 99% compared to fossil fuels. With the decision to purchase solar fuel for use on the airport premises, Zurich Airport is underlining its commitment to sustainability.

Emanuel Fleuti, Head of Sustainability and Environment at Zurich Airport stated: “It is our goal to achieve net zero corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 – without offsetting. Synhelion’s fuel is an important piece of the puzzle. While the majority of our vehicle fleet is being converted to electric operation, special vehicles cannot be equipped with an electric drive. For these vehicles and for the phase of conversion to electric drive, we have found a suitable solution in Synhelion’s product. In a first step, we are planning to use Synhelion’s solar diesel in the passenger buses without electric drive.” Zurich Airport is thus taking a pioneering role in backing a breakthrough technology and making a valuable contribution to establishing solar fuels on the market.

Philipp Furler, CEO and Co-Founder of Synhelion commented: “The demand for innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions will continue to rise – Synhelion and Zurich Airport are working together on scaling solar fuels with this offtake agreement and thus making an active contribution to the energy transition." The signing of the contract is a significant step for solar fuel technology and the commercial introduction of renewable fuels. In addition to Zurich Airport, other companies, including Pilatus Aircraft and Lake Lucerne Navigation Company, have already recently signed offtake agreements with Synhelion.