Renewable Drop-in Fuels for Heavy-duty Transport

The article explores the development and testing of a renewable diesel-like fuel within the EU research project Redifuel. Starting with catalyst development in the laboratory, the entire value chain was evaluated, including fuel synthesis, engine application, and market launch. The fuel, comprising bio-hydrocarbons and bio-alcohols, was tested under real driving conditions in a demonstrator commercial vehicle. Key findings include reduced particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon emissions, as well as improved thermal efficiency. The fuel blend, compliant with EN 590 standards, can be immediately integrated into current heavy-duty vehicle fleets without hardware modifications, offering a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.