A cooperation between ETH Zurich, the Lufthansa Group and the startups Climeworks and Synhelion should bring new perspectives for alternative fuel.
–
Representatives of the Lufthansa Group and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) with their spin-offs Climeworks and Synhelion have signed a declaration of intent for a possible cooperation that should accelerate the market launch of sustainable aviation fuels.
The researchers and engineers at ETH Zurich have developed processes that make it possible to extract CO2 from the atmosphere and, together with water and with the help of concentrated sunlight, to convert it into a synthesis gas that can be used to generate fuel. Such a fuel only releases as much CO2 as was previously extracted from the atmosphere. The common goal of the signatories is to prepare these technologies for later production on an industrial scale. More information on the technology behind the project can be found on the ETH Zurich website.
The partnership initiated by the Lufthansa Group subsidiaries Swiss and Edelweiss is intended to include cooperation in the areas of technology and efficiency. There are also plans to agree on purchase quotas for sustainable fuels at a later date in order to support future demonstration projects by the partners. Further contents of the cooperation are to be worked out by the end of 2020.
Synhelion was created at ETH Zurich in 2016 and is working to bring solar fuels to the market. Climeworks, founded at ETH Zurich in 2009, pursues CO2 air separation in order to provide the carbon required for fuel synthesis in a sustainable manner. Both companies are developing key technologies for the production of sustainable aviation fuels.
“In contrast to other modes of transport, air traffic will depend on sustainable liquid fuels in the foreseeable future. Their market launch requires a joint effort by fuel manufacturers and airlines,” says Aldo Steinfeld, Professor of Renewable Energy Sources at ETH Zurich. “This letter of intent marks the intention of such a cooperation between ETH Zurich, the ETH spin-offs Climeworks and Synhelion and the Lufthansa Group Airlines in order to jointly address the associated challenges. This is intended to support the energy transition in aviation. “
–
