Making synthetic fuels: a Swiss scientist’s bid to decarbonise cars and planes

Millions of combustion engines – powering machines, vehicles and aircraft – will remain in use for decades to come. Instead of replacing them, a Swiss chemical engineer is developing a greener alternative: a synthetic, “drop‑in” fuel that works with existing engines and infrastructure. Inside her labyrinthine lab at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in Dübendorf, a network of pipes and custom-built modules hums away as Alessia Cesarini shows off the prototype e-fuel unit she took two years building. She aims to turn it into a business offering a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. “There are lots of systems with combustion engines still running, and the idea is to provide a locally produced and less-polluting solution,” she explains. Transport accounts for 47% of Switzerland’s energy-related CO2 emissions, versus 25% globally. A Swiss study estimates that around two million combustion-driven vehicles will remain on the country’s ... Full story here Are you the author? Previous post See more for 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy Next post
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