Blaze Energy raises $6.5m seed to retrofit ship engines for alternative fuels

Blaze Energy has raised $6.5 million in seed funding to commercialize engine technology that lets ships burn alternative fuels without replacing their engines, ESG Today reported. The Colorado-based company, founded in 2023, said the round was led by Propeller Ventures and Catalyzer Ventures, with Safar Partners, SOSV, Desai Ventures and Cartography Capital also participating.

The company's Flex-Fuel Reformer System converts ammonia, methanol or LNG into a hydrogen-rich mixture onboard, enabling hydrogen-assisted combustion on existing engine platforms. Blaze says shipowners can lower emissions without committing to a single fuel.

Blaze said the proceeds will fund marine engine testing, expansion of its U.S. and Norway operations and commercial deployment of the technology. The company plans to pilot the reformer system aboard a Lomar Shipping vessel in 2027, following land-based testing, and targets a newbuild product launch in 2028. CEO and co-founder Rok Sitar said the aim is to give shipowners “fuel flexibility through their existing assets.”