Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has signed a five-year fuel offtake agreement with Synhelion. The commitment to purchase solar kerosene from Synhelion marks a significant milestone in their partnership. Under the agreement, Pilatus will acquire 200 tons of solar fuel per year, reinforcing the shared dedication of both companies to the sustainable transformation of aviation.
With the aim of accelerating the scaling of solar fuels for aviation, Pilatus and Synhelion announced the start of their strategic partnership in June 2024. As part of this partnership, Pilatus has also become a shareholder in Synhelion, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to supporting the scale-up of renewable fuel technologies in aviation.
A Milestone for More Sustainable Aviation
Under the new offtake agreement, Pilatus has committed to purchasing 200 tons of solar fuel annually for a period of five years, starting in 2027. The renewable kerosene will be produced by RISE, Synhelion’s first commercial solar fuel plant.
Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus, states: “We are delighted that our strategic partnership with Synhelion has resulted in the first signed fuel offtake agreement. We are committed to supporting Synhelion’s efforts to industrialize solar fuel production. We believe that solar fuels are, as of today, the best way to rapidly defossilize aviation. We intend to use synthetic fuel in our own fleet as soon as possible and offer it to our customers at a later stage.”
Initially, Pilatus plans to use solar fuels for company test and demonstration flights with its signature aircraft, the PC-12 and PC-24.
Advancing Solar Fuel Production
Synhelion has successfully industrialized its technology for the production of sustainable, synthetic fuels. In June 2024, the company inaugurated DAWN, the world’s first industrial demonstration plant for the production of solar fuels. The solar kerosene, diesel, and gasoline produced at plant DAWN will be used for demonstration purposes. The fuel sold to Pilatus will be sourced from Synhelion’s first commercial solar fuel plant RISE in Spain, which is scheduled to start operation in 2027. This facility will have a production capacity of 1’000 tons of solar fuel per year.
Scaling Solar Fuels Globally
Synhelion is rapidly scaling up its solar fuel technology to enable sustainable transportation. Further customers and partners supporting Synhelion will be announced soon. Philipp Furler, Co-CEO and Co Founder of Synhelion, comments: “Pilatus and Synhelion share the same pioneering spirit and strive to defossilize aviation. We are thrilled to welcome Pilatus not only as a strategic partner and investor but also as a key customer in our global roll-out of solar fuels.”
Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Future for Aviation
This agreement marks a significant step forward in the development of sustainable aviation fuels. The partnership between Pilatus and Synhelion is a testament to the growing commitment of the aviation industry to reducing its environmental impact. As the demand for sustainable aviation fuels grows, partnerships like this will be crucial in driving the transition to a more sustainable future for air travel.
