Swiss Startup Launches Solar Gasoline At Fossil Fuels

Swiss startup Synhelion has developed a novel "solar gasoline," a synthetic liquid fuel produced using solar energy in the form of heat. Unlike typical e-fuels that rely on green hydrogen from electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, Synhelion’s process uses concentrated solar heat to drive a thermochemical reaction that converts biogas and water into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). This syngas then serves as a precursor to various synthetic fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene jet fuel. The company highlights that its Sun-to-Liquid fuel cycle is carbon-neutral, releasing only the CO2 previously absorbed during production, making it a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Synhelion recently demonstrated the viability of its solar gasoline by powering a classic 1985 Audi Sport quattro without any engine modifications, showcasing the fuel as a direct drop-in replacement for conventional gasoline. This milestone, achieved at their industrial-scale DAWN plant in Germany, underscores the readiness of their technology for real