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§ Private Profile · 9 Exchange Place, DO1 X8H2, Dublin, Ireland.
XFuel produces sustainable net-zero fuels for road, marine, and aviation transport.
XFuel develops low-carbon, drop-in alternative fuels for the transportation sector. The company converts diverse waste streams into advanced biofuels using a proprietary process. These fuels are compatible with existing infrastructure for road, marine, and aviation applications. XFuel's technology provides efficient, environmentally responsible solutions, aiming for future carbon-negative capabilities.
Established in 2010, XFuel was co-founded by Dr. Nicholas Ball, CEO, Thomas Andreas Günther, CTO, and José Antonio Pérez, COO. The founders recognized the need to reduce transportation's environmental impact by transforming waste into scalable, clean energy. This insight drove their development of advanced biofuels as a sustainable fossil fuel alternative.
XFuel's products cater to various transportation industries, supplying distributors and end-users with sustainable fuel options. The company's vision centers on accelerating global transportation's decarbonization. Through continued innovation, XFuel aims to enable a future powered by cleaner, sustainable energy worldwide.
XFuel has raised $46.2M across 3 funding rounds.
XFuel has raised $46.2M in total across 3 funding rounds.
XFuel has raised $46.2M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $29.0M Grant / Series A Extension in January 2026.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28, 2026 | $29M Grant | — | AENU, Toby Chan, European Innovation Council, ED Phillips, Light RAY Ventures, NYK Line, Overlap Holdings, SOSV, Stolt Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Santosh Lakhan | Announced |
| Jul 13, 2022 | $8.2M Venture Round | AENU | SOSV, Union Square Ventures | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2022 | $9M Seed | — | 8090 Industries, AENU, Comal Ventures, DN Capital, Felicis Ventures, GE Ventures, Infinite Niches, Lowercarbon Capital, Satori Capital, SOSV, Supply Change Capital, Union Square Ventures, Village Global, David Mytton, JC LEE, Jens Begemann, Matt Brezina, Scott Belsky, Susan Danziger, Verena Pausder | Announced |
XFuel has raised $46.2M in total across 3 funding rounds.
XFuel's investors include AENU, Toby Chan, European Innovation Council, Ed Phillips, Light Ray Ventures, NYK Line, Overlap Holdings, SOSV, Stolt Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Santosh Lakhan, 8090 Industries.
XFuel is a cleantech company developing sustainable, drop-in fuels from biomass waste to decarbonize transportation sectors including marine, road, and aviation.[1][3][4] Its patented technologies—Chemical Liquid Refining (CLR) and Mechanical Carbon Conversion (MECC)—convert organic waste into low-carbon advanced biofuels that comply with standards like EN590 and ASTM D975, offering over 85% GHG savings compared to fossil fuels while undercutting costs.[1][5] The company serves fuel distributors and end-users in hard-to-electrify transport, with a pilot plant in Spain producing 150 liters/hour for R&D and scaling toward commercial biorefineries.[3][4] Recent momentum includes a €7.7 million investment from the European Innovation Council in April 2025, alongside backing from Union Square Ventures, SOSV, AENU, and HAX.[1][2][6]
Founded in 2010 in Dublin, Ireland (with operations now in Palma de Mallorca, Spain), XFuel emerged from a challenge to create fuels competing with fossil alternatives on cost and emissions.[1][3][4] Co-founders Nicholas Ball (CEO) and Jose Pérez (COO) led the development, patenting breakthrough processes after years of R&D, reactor design, pilot plant construction, and fuel testing.[3][4][6] Early traction came from proving 85% GHG reductions and cost advantages, culminating in a commercial-ready technology and investments from impact-focused VCs like SOSV and HAX, which supported modular biorefinery scaling.[2][6] The pilot plant in Spain marked a pivotal milestone for feedstock analysis and future projects.[3][4]
XFuel rides the urgent push to decarbonize transportation, which accounts for 37% of end-use CO2 emissions and resists full electrification for long-haul road, marine, and aviation due to mass/range challenges.[2] Its drop-in fuels align with portfolio approaches (biofuels, e-fuels, hydrogen) needed for scale, leveraging existing infrastructure amid rising regulations like EU Fit for 55 and IMO shipping targets.[1][2] Market tailwinds include biomass waste abundance, falling renewable energy costs, and demand for cost-competitive SAF/marine fuels; XFuel influences the ecosystem by proving waste-derived pathways viable, inspiring biorefinery adoption and attracting policy/VC focus on second-generation biofuels.[1][3][5]
XFuel is poised for commercial rollout with its pilot-validated tech and fresh €7.7M funding, targeting full-scale biorefineries to supply global distributors.[1][3] Trends like tightening emissions rules, SAF mandates, and carbon pricing will accelerate demand, potentially enabling carbon-negative fuels via ongoing R&D.[2][5] Its influence may grow by dominating waste-to-drop-in niches, partnering with majors in marine/aviation, and expanding biochar co-products—positioning XFuel as a scalable decarbonization leader in a sector demanding immediate, infrastructure-compatible solutions.[1][2][4]