Dr. Pourya Parsaeian is a technical adviser and technical manager in lubricants, tribology, and sustainable mobility at bp-Castrol, with more than 16 years of experience across the automotive, marine, industrial, and energy sectors. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds, where he specialised in lubricants, lubrication, tribology, and surface engineering. At bp-Castrol, he serves as Technical Manager of the Tribology and Metrology Centre of Excellence and leads several R&D programmes focused on sustainable mobility, reciprocating engine technologies, and future fuels. He oversees product validation from laboratory to field, ensuring alignment with OEM and regulatory requirements. Before joining bp-Castrol, he led the development of sustainable additive and lubricant technologies at Croda, strengthened OEM partnerships, and helped establish the company as a trusted innovation partner. Passionate about linking scientific insight with market needs, he has developed novel methodologies, supported credible product claims, and represented the industry at conferences and OEM forums worldwide. His work continues to advance lubricant technology while supporting the transition to more sustainable energy solutions.

Abstract:

The transition towards sustainable energy has accelerated the adoption of future fuels such as ammonia and methanol, particularly in the marine, power generation and heavy-duty transport sectors. While these fuels offer significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, their unique chemical and physical properties introduce new challenges for lubrication systems, including fuel dilution, lubricant degradation, additive depletion, corrosion, altered film formation, and material compatibility. These effects can significantly influence friction, wear, component durability and overall machine reliability, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of lubricant–fuel interactions. This systematic review critically examines the impact of emerging sustainable fuels on lubricant performance. It reviews the current understanding of the mechanisms governing lubricant degradation and surface interactions, evaluates the experimental techniques used to investigate these effects, and discusses the pivotal role of tribology in developing next-generation lubricants and robust testing methodologies.