Gocce di olio colorate disposte in forma di simbolo di valuta euro su uno sfondo sfumato blu e verde. Synhelion, Syngas, sustainable fuel, co2, carbon capture, carbon neutral, national geographic magazine, picture of the year 2024, Davide Monteleone

© Davide Monteleone/National Geographic Magazine

«What fuel made from the sun could do for the planet»
National Geographic Magazine

Synhelion, a swiss start-up, is scaling up the production of solar-fuel.

As a spin-off the Carbon Capture story, in 2024 me and Davide Monteleone visited Synhelion’s experimental plant in Jülich, Germany. The company uses renewable energy and biogenic waste to create Syngas, a carbon neutral synthetic fuel.
Read the full story on National Geographic.

Uomo che guida una motocicletta nera sulla strada al tramonto, con un casco e giacca in pelle. Synhelion, Syngas, sustainable fuel, co2, carbon capture, carbon neutral, national geographic magazine, Davide Monteleone

© Davide Monteleone/National Geographic Magazine

A story by Davide Monteleone
Samantha Azzani: production
Manuel Montesano: lighting assistant, videographer

«World’s first motorcycle ride powered by solar fuel»
National Geographic Magazine

Prof. Aldo Steinfeld crossed the swiss Alps riding his Harley Davidson fueled with Synhelion’s Syngas.

Steinfeld, a professor at ETH Zürich, has been working on the research and production of solar fuel since the very beginning.
In May 2025, Davide Monteleone and I folllowed Steinfeld through the swiss Alps.
Read the full story on National Geographic.

© Manuel Montesano / Davide Monteleone Studio / National Geographic Magazine

All images: © Manuel Montesano