Eurofuel blog

From Lab to Heat: Eurofuel explores next-gen fuels with OWI and TEC4FUELS

In March 2025, Eurofuel hosted a technical visit at OWI Science for Fuels in Aachen, Germany, bringing together members and partners to explore the latest developments in renewable liquid fuels.

Participants included Eurofuel members NORA, en2x, and In4Fuels, as well as key partners such as Beckett Corporation and the Clean Fuels Alliance America. The delegation engaged directly with OWI and TEC4FUELS experts to exchange insights and examine the role of research and testing in the future of heating and transport fuels.

The visit highlighted 25 years of research at OWI, tracing its evolution from foundational work on low-sulphur heating oil to today’s cutting-edge efforts in renewable fuels, synthetic paraffins, methanol applications, and system integration. Their multi-disciplinary focus on energy carriers, high-temperature technologies, and energy systems offers clear synergies with Eurofuel’s mission to promote climate-friendly, technology-neutral heating solutions across Europe.

A central part of OWI’s presentation was their no-harm testing program, which simulates the ageing and operational stresses that alternative fuels may introduce in real-world heating systems. These tests are essential to ensure the long-term safety and compatibility of renewable fuels, especially when used as drop-in replacements. The data generated supports Eurofuel’s goal of enabling consumers to transition to sustainable fuels without replacing existing appliances or infrastructure.

Methanol, a recurring theme throughout the day, featured in multiple ongoing OWI and TEC4FUELS projects. From converting wastewater biogas into synthetic methanol under the E-BO2T project, to researching methanol compatibility with marine and heating components, the focus is clear: to deliver viable, scalable fuel alternatives that work across sectors.

Another topic of interest was the performance of paraffinic fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), particularly in colder temperatures. OWI is currently studying how these fuels crystallize and settle under winter conditions and evaluating the effect of additives to ensure flow stability. This work is vital for the northern European markets represented by several Eurofuel members.

TEC4FUELS provided an overview of its extensive work in fuel and system testing, including its role in the C³-Mobility project. One of the project’s major outcomes is the validation of Methanol-to-Gasoline (MtG) as a CO₂-neutral drop-in fuel compatible with existing vehicles. The team’s hardware-in-the-loop testing showed MtG can be safely used with standard injection systems, with no degradation even after prolonged exposure, reinforcing Eurofuel’s push for backward-compatible fuel solutions.

The group also explored TEC4FUELS’ contributions to broader hydrogen integration and fuel cell development, including their work on the EcoEdge PrimePower project.

These developments are impressive not only in their technical scope but also in their relevance to Eurofuel. They provide scientific support for our policy positions, offering concrete evidence that renewable liquid fuels can aid in decarbonization without requiring the abandonment of existing infrastructure or imposing high transition costs on consumers.

These projects strengthen Eurofuel’s argument for a technology-open and inclusive approach to Europe’s energy and heating future.