Synhelion inaugurates first industrial solar fuel plant

Located in Jülich, about 50km west of Cologne, DAWN is the culmination of nearly a decade of work since Synhelion was founded in 2016. The plant features a 20-metre-high solar tower surrounded by a mirror field to concentrate solar rays. Inside the tower is a solar receiver with an internal black surface that absorbs heat and transfers it to a thermochemical reactor, where it is then used to produce syngas or synthetic liquid fuels. The tower also houses thermal energy storage that facilitates solar fuel production around the clock. 

According to Synhelion, DAWN will produce several thousand litres of synthetic crude oil (syncrude) per year, with production expected to get under way later in 2024. The syncrude will then be transported to conventional refineries for processing into synthetic kerosene for aviation, or synthetic gasoline or diesel for road transport or maritime use.  

“Today is a historic day for Synhelion,” said Dr Philipp Furler, CEO and co-founder of Synhelion.