Kuehne+Nagel and SWISS Sign Long-Term Deal to Commercialise Solar-Based Synthetic Aviation Fuel

Global freight forwarder Kuehne+Nagel and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) on 16 January announced a Memorandum of Understanding that cements a five-year offtake agreement for synthetic aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Zurich-based cleantech firm Synhelion. Under the deal, Kuehne+Nagel will purchase undisclosed volumes of so-called “solar jet fuel” from SWISS for its air-cargo shipments starting in 2027, providing the producer with revenue certainty to scale up its first commercial plant in Jülich, Germany. (news.europawire.eu)

Synhelion’s technology uses concentrated solar heat to convert CO₂ and water into syngas, which is then refined into drop-in jet fuel with an up to 90 % lifecycle CO₂ reduction compared with kerosene. The partnership therefore positions Switzerland at the forefront of next-generation SAF development just as the EU’s RefuelEU mandate begins phasing in blend quotas.



For corporates relocating staff or shipping high-value goods by air, the arrangement offers a concrete path to lowering Scope 3 emissions without resorting solely to book-and-claim certificates. Kuehne+Nagel says it will integrate the SAF into its ‘Net Zero Carbon’ portfolio, allowing customers to attribute specific CO₂ savings to individual consignments and to receive auditable emission statements compatible with ISO 14083.

Mobility-programme managers should anticipate new cost lines for “embedded SAF” on air-cargo invoices from 2027 and may wish to pilot greenhouse-gas accounting tools ahead of that date. The transaction also increases pressure on rival forwarders and airlines operating in Switzerland to secure their own synthetic-fuel supply, potentially tightening the market and raising premiums as demand outstrips early-stage production.