A US Sustainable Aviation Fuel Startup Takes Aim At Fossil Fuels

The article highlights the advancements of Syzygy Plasmonics, a Houston-based US startup focused on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a means to reduce reliance on fossil kerosene jet fuel. While electrification is considered the ideal solution for aircraft decarbonization, it currently applies mainly to small aircraft and short routes. For larger, long-haul aircraft, alternative liquid fuels like SAF remain critical. Syzygy’s approach involves a proprietary photoreactor technology called Rigel™, which uses renewable energy to produce light that drives chemical reactions in a biogas reactor. This method enables scalable production of hydrogen, syngas, and other fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels, by leveraging plasmonic metallic nanoparticles to catalyze reactions efficiently without combustion. The company’s technology builds on research from the 1970s and recent breakthroughs in plasmonic antenna systems, enabling practical commercial applications. Syzygy has attracted significant investment and support from both government agencies and major energy and industrial