As India faces mounting energy import costs and pressure on the rupee amid global oil market volatility, a Monaco-based fuel technology company claims it may have found an unconventional solution — water. FOWE Eco Solutions says its patented Cavitech fuel emulsion technology can help industries reduce fuel consumption by up to 10%, cut emissions and improve equipment performance without modifying engines or shutting down operations, state-run news agency PTI reported on Sunday. The proposal comes at a critical time for India, which imports nearly 88% of its crude oil requirements. State-run oil firms are reportedly losing around ₹1,000 crore a day while shielding consumers from global price shocks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also urged industries to prioritise fuel conservation as part of a broader energy security strategy. How the technology works According to the company, the system uses a fuel-oil-water emulsion created through Controlled Cavitation Tecnology (CCT). The process disperses microscopic water droplets inside fuel oil without the use of chemical additives. FOWE Chief Operating Officer Hemant Sondhi said the water droplets create micro-explosions during combustion, breaking fuel into ultra-fine particles that burn more efficiently. The company claims this results in lower fuel consumption, cleaner combustion and a sharp reduction in emissions. Sondhi said independent testing at Alfa Laval’s Denmark facility recorded fuel savings of 6.3% in boilers and 8.7% in marine engines. Trials on vessels operated by Scorpio Tankers reportedly showed bunker fuel savings of around 10%, while refinery and steel plant trials in India recorded fuel savings ranging from 3.6% to 6%. No retrofit or shutdown required FOWE says the technology is particularly suited to India’s energy-intensive industries because it does not require engine modification, hardware retrofitting or plant shutdowns. The company also claims the cavitation process reduces the viscosity of heavy fuel oil without the need for expensive cutter stock or chemical flow improvers. This could potentially free up higher-value diesel for commercial sale while reducing pumping and heating costs. According to the company, the technology can cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by around 30%, sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions by nearly 40% and reduce particulate matter emissions to near-zero levels. OWE further says the process reduces fouling inside boilers and furnaces, helping extend maintenance cycles and lower shutdown frequency. India trials indicate industrial potential The company says it has already conducted trials across Indian refineries, steel plants, power units and industrial furnaces. A recent steel plant trial reportedly showed a 5% reduction in furnace fuel consumption along with a 40% drop in harmful emissions. Trials at Indian Oil Corporation’s Haldia refinery reportedly confirmed fuel savings of up to 3.6% in captive power operations. Tests at Bharat Petroleum’s Mathura refinery demonstrated viscosity and sulphur reduction benefits. The implications could be significant for India’s thermal power sector, where fuel oil is routinely used during boiler start-ups, low-load operations and shutdown cycles — phases associated with high emissions and inefficient combustion. FOWE says its emulsion technology can reduce fuel use during these periods without requiring changes to existing infrastructure. Positioned as an economic tool The company is positioning the technology not only as a decarbonisation solution but also as a strategic economic tool for India. “With India importing the vast majority of its crude oil, every litre saved directly protects foreign exchange reserves and reduces pressure on the rupee,” Sondhi said. FOWE claims the technology has already been validated by global engineering and maritime companies, including MAN Energy Solutions and Alfa Laval, along with certification agencies such as DNV, ABS, TÜV and SGS. For India’s refineries, steelmakers, shipping operators and thermal power plants facing volatile fuel prices and tighter emission norms, the proposition is simple: lower fuel costs, cleaner operations and minimal infrastructure changes. As energy security and inflation become increasingly intertwined in India’s economy, a technology that promises to save fuel using water may begin to attract serious attention.
