Scientists in Switzerland have developed a synthetic jet fuel made entirely from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water — a potential game-changer for the aviation industry’s climate impact.
Researchers at ETH Zurich, a leading science and technology university, have created a process that produces carbon-neutral jet fuel capable of powering today’s aircraft without requiring modifications or new infrastructure.
The process uses solar energy to power a high-temperature reactor, which splits water and carbon dioxide into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, known as syngas. This syngas is then converted into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as clean jet fuel.
“This is a major step forward in sustainable aviation,” said Aldo Steinfeld, professor at ETH Zurich and lead scientist on the project. “It shows that carbon-neutral fuels can be produced using resources available in the atmosphere.”
The technology has already moved beyond the lab. A pilot plant near Zurich is actively producing the fuel, demonstrating its feasibility at a small scale.
Aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. This solar-derived synthetic fuel could offer a path to reducing emissions without redesigning engines or building new fueling infrastructure.
Researchers say scaling up the technology could help achieve climate targets in the aviation industry while reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
