Accelerating deployment across transport, maritime, and power generation sectors.
Petredec, a specialist in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry, has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based startup Carnot Engines, accelerating the deployment of next-generation, efficient, fuel-flexible engine technology across the transport, maritime, and power generation sectors
Carnot Engines’ proprietary engine can achieve thermal efficiencies of up to 70% under targeted operating conditions, more than double that of combustion engines, reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions. Efficiency gains are accelerated by a novel opposed-piston design and advanced high-temperature materials, which reduce heat losses and unlock energy typically lost in conventional engines. The technology is underpinned by an expanding portfolio of proprietary patents.
The engine is engineered to operate across a range of fuels, including LPG, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, biofuels, biogas, LNG and diesel, and can switch between fuels as needed. This flexibility provides a low-risk, adaptable decarbonisation solution across heavy-duty power sectors.
The partnership will combine Petredec’s operational expertise and global industrial asset base with Carnot Engines’ innovative technology to drive the development of highly efficient, multi-fuel-capable engines ready for real-world deployment across multiple sectors.
Philip Harwood, Petredec fleet director and Carnot board member, said, “This partnership reflects our conviction that sustainability must be delivered through practical, implementable solutions. We are focused on achievable pathways that make our operations more efficient and
environmentally responsible. LPG is a cleaner burning, readily available fuel, and combining it with Carnot Engines’ highly efficient engines, creates an optimal synergy to deliver cleaner power and transport at lower cost, while benefiting the environment.
“We are excited to fund the R&D for the LPG version of the Carnot engine and to become shareholders. Having met with Carnot Engines’ founders, it’s clear that they share Petredec’s passion for sustainability and commitment to their technology. Carnot Engines has assembled an exceptional design and engineering team, from aerospace and elite motor sports to quantum physics, whose vision and attention to detail have already set new benchmarks. We are proud to partner with them in bringing this innovative technology to market.”
Carnot Engines has gained support from industrial and academic partners, alongside Petredec; other shareholders include Oxford University Innovation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Carisbrooke Shipping.
Archie Watts-Farmer, CEO, Carnot Engines, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Petredec. As a company, Petredec offer a unique and perfect fit with our strategy to accelerate the delivery of decarbonised power solutions into our target markets. Petredec’s deep expertise across the whole value chain provides the perfect knowledge to optimise our engines for LPG fuel, which we believe will provide a key role in the decarbonising pathway for many industries.”
Durability testing is targeted to commence in Q2 2026, with initial commercial demonstrators anticipated to follow in H2 2026, subject to development milestones.
