Syzygy Plasmonics
Syzygy Plasmonics is a Houston-based private company developing light-driven photocatalytic reactors that convert waste biogas and renewable electricity into low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel, selling SAF via long-dated offtake agreements and licensing its Rigel and NovaSAF technology to fuel project developers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Syzygy Plasmonics does
Syzygy Plasmonics is a Houston-based private company developing light-driven photocatalytic chemical reactors that convert waste biogas and renewable electricity into low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Its core technology stack comprises the Rigel™ photonic reactor, which uses proprietary plasmonic photocatalysts to drive reforming reactions with photonic energy in place of combustion, and the GHG e-Reforming™ process, an electrified reforming pathway that integrates downstream with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis licensed from Velocys and Honeywell to produce synthetic paraffinic kerosene. The integrated end-to-end offering is branded NovaSAF™, a biogas-to-SAF pathway with dual ISCC EU RFNBO and Advanced BioSAF pre-certification and CORSIA alignment.
The company's commercial model rests on two complementary revenue streams. First, Syzygy produces and sells SAF directly under long-dated offtake contracts with commodity trading and fuel distribution counterparties, anchored by a binding six-year agreement with Trafigura covering the entire output of the NovaSAF-1 facility in Uruguay and a capacity reservation with World Fuel Services. Second, the company licenses its Rigel reactor and e-Reforming technology, and co-develops commercial-scale projects with regional partners across Brazil (Geo biogas&carbon), Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Turkey, and the US, targeting 1 million tonnes/year of SAF capacity by 2035.
Syzygy is venture-backed, with disclosed cumulative funding of approximately $76.7 million in a Series C led by Carbon Direct Capital in November 2022, supplemented by strategic investments from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Zeon Corporation, and Tüpraş Ventures, alongside a corporate investor base that includes Toyota, Equinor, Lotte, Chevron, BP, Aramco, Sumitomo, and Pan American Energy. The company has 101–250 employees, operates engineering and testing facilities in Houston and Pearland (Texas), and holds its Uruguayan operations through the wholly-owned subsidiary SP Developments Uruguay S.A. Management is led by CEO and co-founder Trevor Best, with co-founder Suman Khatiwada as CTO. The company remains pre-revenue, with first commercial SAF from NovaSAF-1 targeted for Q2 2028.
Syzygy Plasmonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Syzygy Plasmonics
- Legal name
- Syzygy Plasmonics, Inc.
- Website
- https://plasmonics.tech
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Syzygy Plasmonics is a Houston-based private company developing light-driven photocatalytic reactors that convert waste biogas and renewable electricity into low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel, selling SAF via long-dated offtake agreements and licensing its Rigel and NovaSAF technology to fuel project developers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Syzygy Plasmonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Technology
- NAICS
- Petroleum Refineries (32411), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production (HEFA, FT, ATJ) (EUAAAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) & Alternative Fuels (e-fuels, biofuels, hydrogen) (THABANAA), Biofuel Upgrading, Hydrotreating & Refining (Co-processing, Isomerization) (EUAAAHAG)
Keywords
Where Syzygy Plasmonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Syzygy Plasmonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SAF Sales: Revenue from selling sustainable aviation fuel produced at commercial facilities. First commercial plant NovaSAF-1 in Uruguay will produce SAF with first deliveries targeted for 2028. Six-year binding offtake agreement with Trafigura covers entire production volume of first plant.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary photonic reactor technology and GHG e-Reforming process to project developers globally. Partnerships in Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Turkey, and US involve co-development of commercial-scale SAF facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | NovaSAF-1 commercial SAF production at ~$44/gal levelized cost |
| Other | Multi-year contract | US 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit eligible fuels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Syzygy Plasmonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Syzygy Plasmonics develops and commercializes proprietary light-driven photocatalytic reactor technology that converts waste biogas (from landfills, dairy operations, and agricultural waste) and renewable electricity into low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Its integrated offering combines the Rigel photonic reactor hardware, the GHG e-Reforming electrified process, and the NovaSAF biogas-to-SAF pathway (paired with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) to deliver RFNBO- and Advanced BioSAF-eligible fuel at sub-$3/gal projected cost at scale.
Product overview
Syzygy Plasmonics offers a unified product portfolio centered on its proprietary light-driven chemical reactor technology for sustainable aviation fuel production. The core offerings include the Rigel™ photonic reactor (the hardware platform employing proprietary photocatalysts), the GHG e-Reforming™ process (the electrified reforming technology that converts biogas to syncrude using light rather than combustion), and the NovaSAF™ solution (the complete biogas-to-SAF pathway integrating these technologies with Velocys' Fischer-Tropsch technology). The company operates a modular cell-stack architecture that enables deployment at small and medium-scale biogas sources, aggregating stranded assets into commercial-scale fuel volumes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NovaSAF: Syzygy's biogas-to-sustainable aviation fuel pathway platform that converts waste biogas and renewable electricity into affordable, low-carbon aviation fuel
- Rigel
- GHG e-Reforming
Products and services
- NovaSAF™ Syzygy's flagship biogas-to-sustainable aviation fuel pathway that converts waste biogas (from landfills, dairy operations, and agricultural waste) and renewable electricity into low-carbon SAF using proprietary photocatalysis. The platform has been independently pre-assessed as eligible for both ISCC EU RFNBO and Advanced BioSAF certification, achieving approximately 80% carbon intensity reduction versus Jet-A and 90% lower lifecycle emissions than conventional jet fuel. Designed for project developers, airlines, and fuel buyers.
- Rigel™ Photonic Reactor Proprietary light-driven chemical reactor employing proprietary photocatalysts that uses photonic energy to drive reforming reactions, eliminating process emissions and enabling new economics for chemical manufacturing. Modular cell-stack architecture enables deployment at small and medium-scale biogas sources where competing technologies cannot operate economically. Sold/licensed to project developers and industrial partners for chemical and fuel production.
- GHG e-Reforming™ Proprietary electrified reforming technology that converts biogas and renewable electricity into sustainable aviation fuel without high heat or combustion, achieving approximately 85% SAF output rate with the remainder being low-emission naphtha. The process underpins the NovaSAF pathway and is the technical foundation licensed to project developers globally.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% lower lifecycle emissions than conventional jet fuel
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Syzygy Plasmonics
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Syzygy Plasmonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
Syzygy Plasmonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- World Fuel ServicescoreCapacity reservation agreement to reserve portion of future SAF output from planned commercial-scale facilities in Central and South America. Provides early pathway to market for NovaSAF platform.
- Geo biogas&carbonflagshipMOU for Brazil SAF projects converting sugarcane waste biogas to SAF. Initial projects targeting up to 100,000 tonnes/year with long-term expansion exceeding 525,000 tonnes annually. Partnership leverages Geo's biogas asset network with Syzygy's electrified e-Reforming technology.
- NorthStar Renewable FuelscoreMOU for SAF production partnership targeting one million tons per year by 2035.
- Islonias SLcoreMOU for SAF production partnership targeting one million tons per year by 2035.
- Mexican SAF ProducercoreMOU for SAF production partnership targeting one million tons per year by 2035.
- Lotte ChemicalcoreSuccessful trial of ammonia e-cracking unit to unlock ammonia as a hydrogen carrier in Asia. Partnership demonstrates potential for ammonia-based hydrogen supply to Japan.
- TrafiguraflagshipBinding six-year SAF offtake agreement covering entire production volume of NovaSAF-1 facility in Durazno, Uruguay with first deliveries targeted for 2028. Includes option for Trafigura to purchase additional volumes from future Syzygy projects. Provides commercial certainty for construction financing.
- HoneywellcoreHoneywell's Fischer-Tropsch technologies integrated into NovaSAF-1 facility for converting biogas-derived synthesis gas into synthetic paraffinic kerosene SAF.
- VelocysflagshipVelocys selected as Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology licensor for NovaSAF-1 biogas-to-SAF project in Uruguay. Velocys' microFTL technology enables cost-competitive FT synthesis. Achieved 50% CAPEX reduction for NovaSAF-1 through modularization and standardization.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Syzygy Plasmonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Topsoe: Topsoe licenses hydroprocessing and SAF production technologies (including its HydroFlex and e-jet fuel routes). As a broad incumbent in SAF process technology, it competes with Syzygy for technology licensing relationships with project developers and refiners transitioning to SAF.
- Neste: Neste is the world's largest SAF and renewable diesel producer via the HEFA pathway. As the incumbent dominating SAF supply today, it sets the competitive benchmark Syzygy must undercut on cost and carbon intensity to win mandate-driven offtake from airlines.
Direct peers
- Sunfire: Sunfire is a German Power-to-Liquids developer producing e-SAF, e-diesel, and e-kerosene via high-temperature co-electrolysis and FT synthesis. It directly competes with Syzygy for RFNBO-compliant SAF offtake agreements with European airlines and mandate-driven buyers.
- Infinium: Infinium produces e-fuels including e-SAF via reverse-water-gas-shift and FT synthesis from green hydrogen and captured CO2. It directly competes with Syzygy's NovaSAF pathway for the RFNBO-eligible SAF mandate market and shares reliance on Fischer-Tropsch integration partners.
- LanzaTech: LanzaTech develops gas fermentation technology that converts waste gases (including biogas) into ethanol and SAF precursors. It is the most direct competitor to Syzygy in the novel-waste-to-SAF pathway space, targeting similar airline customers and competing for the same RFNBO/Advanced Biofuel compliance premiums.
- Velocys: Velocys is the Fischer-Tropsch technology licensor integrated into Syzygy's NovaSAF-1 facility. It is also a competing FT-to-SAF technology provider with its own microFTL platform, placing it in direct competition for FT-based SAF projects globally while serving as Syzygy's partner on the flagship Uruguay plant.
- HIF Global: HIF Global is a leading e-fuels developer producing e-SAF, e-gasoline, and e-diesel from green hydrogen and captured CO2 using FT synthesis. It competes head-to-head with Syzygy for RFNBO-compliant SAF demand and for global project co-development partnerships.
Emerging players
- Prometheus Fuels: Prometheus develops direct-air-capture-to-fuels technology producing drop-in gasoline and jet fuel from atmospheric CO2. It targets the same low-carbon aviation fuel compliance market as Syzygy via an alternative novel pathway (DAC + electrochemistry vs. photocatalysis + FT).
- Aemetis: Aemetis develops renewable diesel and SAF from low-carbon feedstocks including dairy biogas. It overlaps with Syzygy on biogas-to-fuels routes and targets the same California/US 45Z low-carbon fuel credit and airline SAF demand, though using conventional rather than photocatalytic conversion.
- Twelve: Twelve converts captured CO2 into chemicals and fuels (including SAF precursors) using proprietary electrochemical technology. It competes with Syzygy in the novel-waste-or-CO2-to-SAF pathway category and pursues similar airline offtake and corporate sustainability buyer segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Syzygy Plasmonics social profiles
Digital presenceSyzygy Plasmonics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Syzygy Plasmonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Syzygy Plasmonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Syzygy Plasmonics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Syzygy Plasmonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors18 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Syzygy Plasmonics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Syzygy Plasmonics
What does Syzygy Plasmonics do?
Syzygy Plasmonics develops and commercializes proprietary light-driven photocatalytic reactor technology that converts waste biogas (from landfills, dairy operations, and agricultural waste) and renewable electricity into low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Its integrated offering combines the Rigel photonic reactor hardware, the GHG e-Reforming electrified process, and the NovaSAF biogas-to-SAF pathway (paired with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) to deliver RFNBO- and Advanced BioSAF-eligible fuel at sub-$3/gal projected cost at scale.
Is Syzygy Plasmonics a public or private company?
Syzygy Plasmonics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Syzygy Plasmonics founded?
Syzygy Plasmonics was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Syzygy Plasmonics based?
Syzygy Plasmonics is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Syzygy Plasmonics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SAF Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing.
Who are Syzygy Plasmonics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Topsoe and Neste. Direct peers are Sunfire, Infinium, LanzaTech, Velocys and HIF Global. Emerging players are Prometheus Fuels, Aemetis and Twelve.
Does Syzygy Plasmonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Syzygy Plasmonics.
What industry is Syzygy Plasmonics in?
Syzygy Plasmonics's product category is Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAHAE, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production (HEFA, FT, ATJ), with a secondary code of THABANAA, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) & Alternative Fuels (e-fuels, biofuels, hydrogen). Its NAICS code is 32411 and its SIC code is 2860.