Independent testing by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) has revealed that marine fuel consumption and emissions can be reduced more efficiently and cost-effectively than previously thought. The study focused on a fuel treatment technology from UK-based Fuelre4m, which showed significant improvements in large marine engines using standard marine fuels.
In controlled tests, fuel consumption decreased by 3.5% to 6.7%, indicating that the fuel provided more usable energy per unit. In real-world conditions, where engines can adjust loads, efficiency gains were found to exceed 21%. These enhancements were achieved without any modifications to the engines or changes to fuel specifications, attributed solely to improved fuel combustion behavior.
As shipowners face stricter emissions regulations, this research offers a viable near-term solution for existing vessels, rather than relying solely on new builds or alternative fuels. George Papalambrou, an associate professor at NTUA, noted the consistency of the efficiency improvements across various operating conditions.
Fuelre4m CEO Rob Mortimer emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of reducing fuel consumption, highlighting that these results enable operators to implement changes immediately without waiting for future technologies.
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