INDUSTRY NEWS SWISS TO BE FIRST AIRLINE TO USE ‘SUN-TO-LIQUID’ FUEL
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and the Lufthansa Group have concluded a strategic collaboration with the Synhelion company to bring its solar aviation fuel to market, making SWISS the first airline in the world to use ‘sun-to-liquid’ fuel. The process devised by Synhelion uses concentrated sunlight to produce carbon-neutral kerosene. “Our team-up with Synhelion is
founded on our shared vision to make carbon-neutral flying in regular flight operations possible through the use of solar fuel,” explained SWISS chief executive officer, Dieter Vranckx. “We are proud that SWISS will be the first airline in the world to fly with solar kerosene. In partnering with Synhelion, we are supporting Swiss innovation and are actively pursuing and promoting the development, the market introduction and the scaling-up of this highly promising technology for producing sustainable fuels.” Synhelion’s procedure uses concentrated solar heat
to manufacture syngas which can then be synthesized into kerosene using standard industrial processes. This
sun-to-liquid fuel closes the fuel carbon cycle: when
combusted, it will only produce as much CO2 as went into its manufacture. The new fuel thus makes a major contribution to effectively decarbonizing air transport. Synhelion will build the world’s first facility for the
industrial production of solar fuel in Jülich, Germany, this year. SWISS is set to become the first customer for the solar kerosene in 2023. Under the collaboration now concluded, SWISS and the Lufthansa Group will support the development of Synhelion’s planned commercial fuel production facility in Spain, too. “We believe in a globalized world
connected by climate-friendly mobility,” adds Dr. Philipp Furler, Synhelion’s co-founder and CEO. “Our next-generation carbon-
neutral solar kerosene is an economically and ecologically viable substitute for fossil fuels. The commitment of SWISS and the Lufthansa Group underlines the aviation sector’s keen interest in our solar fuel. And we are looking forward already to the day the first SWISS aircraft takes off with our solar kerosene.”
www.synhelion.com
GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY STORAGE PROJECTS
The intermittent nature of renewables like solar and wind power means that energy can be produced when it is not needed, such as during extended periods of high wind. However, as new technologies are developed, this energy can be stored for longer, helping manage electricity generation variations and increasing resilience, while also maximising value for money. As a result, £6.7 million of government funding has been awarded to projects across the UK to support the development of new energy storage technologies. 24 projects have been awarded the first round of
funding through the ‘Longer Duration Energy Storage competition’, which is worth £68m in total. These projects will benefit from a share of over £6.7m to develop new energy storage technologies that can utilise stored energy as heat, electricity, or as a low- carbon energy carrier like hydrogen. Ranging from the development of thermal batteries to converting energy
to hydrogen, they have been selected because of their potential to improve technology performance and reduce the cost of meeting net zero. Successful projects could benefit from a greater tranche of funding from a second phase of the competition, which will support these projects towards commercialisation, encouraging private investment and creating new jobs. Energy & Climate Change Minister, Greg Hands, said:
“Driving forward energy storage technologies will be vital in our transition towards cheap, clean and secure renewable energy. “It will allow us to extract the full benefit from our
home-grown renewable energy sources, drive down costs and end our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels. Through this competition we are making sure the country’s most innovative scientists and thinkers have our backing to make this ambition a reality.”
www.gov.uk
NEW UK FACILITY PRODUCES FLEXIBLE SOLAR FILM
Power Roll has opened a solar film manufacturing facility in County Durham, the first facility in the world to produce low-cost, lightweight, flexible solar film using Power Roll’s patented micro- groove technology. The pilot manufacturing facility is a milestone in the evolution of energy, producing next-generation solar solutions to support the transition towards
a sustainable energy system. Emerging solutions such as Power Roll’s flexible film will enable solar to be deployed more easily in the built environment, off-grid, on vehicles and other applications where traditional silicon solar panels are too heavy or too expensive to be used. Estimates suggest that current UK commercial roof space alone could accommodate almost
www.energymanagementmag.co.uk
100 gigawatts of solar film – equivalent to building 20,000 five megawatt solar farms. Neil Spann, chief executive, Power
Roll, said: “Our technology can make a significant contribution to tackling climate change while improving the lives of millions, worldwide, through access to low-cost clean energy.” Power Roll’s approach to
manufacturing solar film, which uses widely available materials and familiar production processes, yields a carbon footprint that is said to be up to 20 times lower than silicon PV.
https://powerroll.solar
SULNOX GROUP REVEALS AMBITIOUS PLANS TO HELP CLEAN UP MOTORSPORT
Greentech company SulNOx Group has partnered with the Legends Cars National Championship for the 2022 season. All cars lining up on the grid for the series, which starts in April at Oulton Park in Cheshire, will use SulNOx fuel conditioners to reduce their impact on the environment. Created from natural, biodegradable
ingredients, SulNOx additives emulsify water and increase lubricity and oxygen, therefore making fuel burn cleanly and more efficiently. In essence, using SulNOx means a more complete burn of the fuel, converting current waste particulate matter into useful energy while lowering emissions. Most ‘traditional’ fuel additives
are made from waste distillates and solvents, which gives false efficiency. SulNOx benefits from added detergents and surfactants, which help to condition the engine and other components and keep them in prime working order. SulNOx Group specialises in providing
responsible solutions towards the decarbonisation of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Its fuel additives reduce the production of harmful, environmentally
damaging emissions including CO2. Dr Dan Clarke, global head of
Science and Technology at SulNOx Group, said: “We are extremely happy to partner with the Legends Cars National Championship to help make their series of motorsport more environmentally friendly. SulNOx Group PLC is committed to the decarbonisation of fossil fuels and this is a big statement that motorsport is equally committed to a more sustainable, greener future.” Ben Richardson, chief executive at
SulNOx Group, said: “This is our first foray into motorsport, and we are very excited about it. Our products have a huge potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of the sport, and we hope other parts of the motor racing industry will sit up and take notice.”
https://sulnoxgroup.com
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