Synhelion refuels first construction machine with renewable diesel

Deployment at the Brüttener Tunnel construction site near Bassersdorf (Zurich) demonstrates that synthetic fuels function reliably even under demanding conditions.
The renewable synthetic diesel comes from Synhelion’s DAWN plant in Jülich, Germany, which has been producing fuels on an industrial scale since 2024. With this initial delivery, the two Swiss companies are providing significant momentum for the sustainable transformation of the construction industry.

A solution for machinery that is difficult to electrify

Due to their high energy demands, heavy construction machines are difficult and costly to electrify. Consequently, liquid fuels remain the most practical solution for the often undeveloped terrain of construction sites.
Synhelion’s renewable diesel delivers the same performance as conventional diesel while reducing net CO₂ emissions by up to 100%. As a drop-in fuel, it can be used in existing engines without technical modifications, as demonstrated by its use in an excavator operated by Eberhard Bau AG. Starting in 2027, the leading Swiss construction company will source larger quantities of Synhelion’s diesel.
"Our employees operate heavy construction machinery under demanding conditions. Performance and reliability are crucial. This initial use of Synhelion’s diesel shows that renewable fuels work seamlessly in everyday construction operations," says Silvan Eberhard, Head of Logistics at Eberhard Unternehmungen.

Another practical application for sustainable fuels

The first operation of an excavator using renewable diesel serves as another example of the diverse applications for Synhelion’s fuels. The cleantech company has already demonstrated the viability of renewable jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline in the aviation, maritime, and road transport sectors.
"Machinery in the construction and infrastructure sectors will continue to rely on liquid fuels for a long time to come," says Philipp Furler, Co-CEO and co-founder of Synhelion. "Renewable fuels offer a realistic and immediately deployable way to reduce emissions. To make a genuine contribution to net-zero emissions, it is now crucial that we scale up our technology to lower production costs."
DAWN is Synhelion’s first industrial plant to integrate all of the company’s innovations for renewable fuel production. With this demonstration plant, Synhelion has validated its technology at an industrial scale, thereby proving its readiness for large-scale deployment.