Swiss is to become the first airline to use solar aviation fuel to help power its flights.
The carrier, which is part of the Lufthansa Group, will work with Switzerland-based Synhelion to use ‘sun-to-liquid’ solar kerosene, as part of its policy to promote sustainable aviation fuels.
Swiss CEO Dieter Vranckx said: “We are proud that Swiss will be the first airline in the world to fly with solar kerosene.
“In partnering with Synhelion, we are supporting Swiss innovation and are actively pursuing and promoting the development, the market introduction and the scaling-up of this highly promising technology for producing sustainable fuels.”
Synhelion has developed a technology for manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from renewable energy sources. The process uses concentrated solar heat to manufacture synthesis gas which can then be turned into kerosene.
Philipp Furler, Synhelion’s co-founder and CEO, added: “Our next-generation carbon-neutral solar kerosene is an economically and ecologically viable substitute for fossil fuels.
“The commitment of Swiss and the Lufthansa Group underlines the aviation sector’s keen interest in our solar fuel.”
Increasing the use of SAF is seen as one of the main initiatives to help airlines reduce their carbon emissions as the aviation sector looks to achieve its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The solar fuel will only produce as much carbon dioxide as went into its manufacture, which will help to cut aviation emissions.
Synhelion is due to build its first facility to produce the fuel in Germany this year. Swiss will be the first airline customer for its solar kerosene in 2023.