Independent university testing shows carbon emissions and fuel consumption from construction plant and materials production can be reduced sooner and at a lower cost than many in the industry have previously assumed.
A study conducted by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) has found that a fuel treatment technology developed by Fuelre4m can deliver measurable efficiency improvements in large diesel engines operating on standard fuels. The technology has already been adopted by global building materials group Holcim, demonstrating its ability to perform at scale in real-world construction and industrial environments.
In the most conservative fixed test condition, where shaft speed and load are deliberately held constant, fuel consumption was reduced by 3.5–6.7 %, demonstrating that the fuel delivers more usable energy per unit consumed. In real-world operation, where engines are not artificially constrained and can reduce load to achieve the same work, this improvement expresses as a materially larger efficiency gain, with independent testing showing propulsion efficiency improvements of over 21 %
In controlled, like-for-like runs at fixed shaft speed and load, fuel burn was reduced by 3.5–6.7 %, providing direct evidence of superior fuel performance. When the engine is permitted to respond under real-world conditions, where heavy plant, generators and production equipment run for extended periods every day, the benefits increase substantially, with efficiency improving by up to 21 %.
Crucially, these results can be delivered without modifying engines or changing fuel specifications. By improving how fuel behaves during combustion, the technology will enable companies to reduce emissions immediately across existing fleets of machinery and equipment.
This represents a significant opportunity for the construction sector. Fuel will continue to be one of the largest operational costs across quarrying, cement production, logistics and on-site plant, while pressure to decarbonize will only increase through regulation, planning requirements and client expectations. Even modest efficiency gains, when deployed at scale, can translate into substantial emissions reductions and cost savings.
Rather than waiting for new equipment, full electrification or alternative fuels to become commercially viable, the research shows that emissions reductions can be delivered using assets already in operation.
George Papalambrou, Associate Professor at the National Technical University of Athens, said:
“We were surprised by how consistent the efficiency improvements were across different operating conditions.”
Rob Mortimer, CEO of Fuelre4m, said:
“Fuel will remain one of the biggest cost drivers in construction and materials production. When consumption falls, emissions and costs fall with it. What matters is that these improvements can be implemented immediately, using existing equipment and fuels, as demonstrated by our partnership with Holcim.”