Synhelion’s solar fuel powers steamboat in world first
With steamboat „Gallia“ Synhelion is showing, that its solarfuels are now ready for large-scale deployment - without requiring modifications to existing infrastructure, engines, or vehicles
The Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV) AG has used solar fuel from Synhelion for the first time. The steamboat Gallia was symbolically fueled with solar diesel from Synhelion’s industrial scale plant DAWN – a milestone for more sustainable mobility on the water.
The over 110-year-old steamboat was symbolically fueled by Synhelion with the first barrel of solar diesel. The solar fuel comes from Synhelion’s first production plant DAWN in Jülich, Germany, which has been producing sustainable, synthetic fuels on an industrial scale since summer 2024. The fuel is fully compatible with conventional combustion engines. This makes SGV the first shipping company in the world to use Synhelion’s solar fuel. The symbolic first fueling took place as part of the launch of SGV’s new premium experience “Legends of Lake Lucerne.”
Renewable fuels key to sustainable shipping
The renewable fuel used in this historic ride was produced at DAWN, Synhelion’s first industrial-scale demonstration plant. With plant DAWN, Synhelion has successfully validated its technology in an industrial setting, proving that the technology is now ready for large-scale deployment. Synhelion uses solar heat to drive a thermochemical process that turns a biogenic carbon source and water into synthetic drop-in fuel, namely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), gasoline, and diesel. Unlike fossil fuels, Synhelion’s solar fuels are nearly CO2-neutral, emitting only as much CO2 as was used to produce them. Synhelion’s technology presents a solution available today for defossilizing transportation without requiring modifications to existing infrastructure, engines, or vehicles.
SGV a pioneer in shipping
The navigation company plans to regularly purchase solar fuel from Synhelion in the future and has already signed a five-year offtake agreement. As a pioneer customer, SGV is making an important contribution to scaling up Synhelion’s technology.
“Sustainability is a key priority for us. Synhelion’s solar fuel offers us a concrete solution to reduce our CO2 emissions,” says Stefan Schulthess, Managing Director of SGV.
Further applications for Synhelion fuels planned
By successfully starting fuel production at its industrial plant DAWN, Synhelion has demonstrated that its technology is ready for market ramp-up. The fuels produced at DAWN will now be gradually introduced into other means of transport to showcase their potential in driving the transition to a net-zero transportation sector. The world’s first motorcycle ride powered by Synhelion’s solar gasoline already took place recently. At the same time, the company is working intensively to expand its production capacities in order to supply commercially relevant quantities of renewable fuels in the future.
About Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV) AG
Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV) AG, along with Shiptec AG and Tavolago AG, is a subsidiary of SGV Holding AG. Its origins date back to 1836. As a licensed, private transport company, SGV AG operates a fleet of five historic steamboats and 14 motor vessels, transporting around 3 million passengers annually on Lake Lucerne. For more information, please visit www.lakelucerne.ch.
About Synhelion
Synhelion produces renewable solar fuels to defossilize the transportation sector. The cleantech company has developed a scalable technology to produce synthetic fuels from solar energy. These solar fuels are nearly CO₂-neutral and fully compatible with today’s global fuel infrastructure and conventional engines. Since the launch of its industrial-scale plant DAWN in 2024, Synhelion has been producing solar jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline and delivering them to its customers. Backed by international partners across various industry and transportation sectors, Synhelion is on a mission to replace fossil fuels with renewable solar fuels. For more information, please visit www.synhelion.com.
Source: Synhelion, press release, 2025-05-15.