For his graduation project as part of his Mechanical Engineering studies at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Jasper Kole researched the dynamic performance of methanol engines and two-stage turbocharging. It landed him the Prof. Kooy Prize on 8 April.
The Kooy Symposium is organised annually in April by the Defence and Security department of KIVI in collaboration with TNO, NLR, Mars & Mercurius, Eurodefense, KVMO and APA. This year’s theme was “Europese Defensie of the InfuUS” (European defence off the drip) – the Dutch contribution to Strategic Enablers for Europe.
This year, Kole was completely surprised when his girlfriend and parents stepped onto the stage in the auditorium of the Majoor Koot Barracks in Stroe to share the good news. One of the key conclusions of his research is that methanol engines using the same combustion concept as diesel deliver virtually the same dynamic performance.
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Kooy Prize
Following the “Setting the scene” session – featuring contributions from State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk, Member of the European Parliament Bart Groothuis, Director DOBP Major General Hanke Bruins Slot and NIDV Director Hans Huijgen – the annual Kooy Prize was awarded.
The prize is presented each year to the author of the best graduation thesis (TU/HTO) on a technology relevant to Defence and Security. The EUR 2000 cash prize, which the winner may spend freely, is provided by the Kooy Fund, named after former professor of rocket engineering at the Royal Military Academy in Breda, Prof. Johan Kooy.
Thesis
From a large number of submissions, the jury unanimously selected Kole’s thesis titled: “The dynamic behaviour of a two-stage turbocharged marine engine under diesel and methanol-diesel dual fuel operation – Mean value modelling of a constant-speed generator set with high-pressure direct-injected methanol”.
Kole conducted his research on behalf of the Bureau of Marine Engineering of the Maritime Systems Department (AMS), part of COMMIT, based at the Kromhout Barracks in Utrecht. He was supported by COMMIT (Materiel and IT Command), which submitted his thesis without his knowledge.
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Accurate modelling of dynamic behaviour
His supervisors stated: ‘Jasper carried out his work with great thoroughness and provided us with valuable insights into the dynamic behaviour of a two-stage turbocharger operating on both diesel and methanol. Particularly impressive is his ability to accurately model the dynamic behaviour of the generator using a limited set of measurement data. This highlights not only the quality of his work, but also his ability to analyse complex systems and simulate them realistically.’
Regarding its relevance to Defence, COMMIT noted: ‘Reducing dependence on fossil fuels is a strategic priority for Defence. Research such as this is therefore crucial. The use of methanol as an alternative fuel offers a promising pathway towards a more sustainable fleet. Jasper’s research provides the technical foundation and confidence needed to make this transition successful.’
The winner – Jasper Kole
Kole carried out the assignment as part of his Mechanical Engineering degree at TU/e. ‘I had previously completed an internship at the Bureau of Marine Engineering, and they approached me to research the dynamic behaviour of engines using methanol as fuel. I was happy to do so — especially once we gained access to test results from a manufacturer of such engines.’
Kole received a certificate, a commemorative glass award and a symbolic cheque for EUR 2000 from jury chairman Commander Ivo Marx. Marx: ‘Jasper’s research is highly relevant, as it contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels — a strategic priority for Defence. He has succeeded in filling important knowledge gaps, as the dynamic behaviour of methanol-powered engines combined with a two-stage turbocharger has been only minimally researched and has seen little practical application in the commercial sector. Despite the limited amount of practical data, a manufacturer indicated that Jasper’s theoretical model closely matches real-world performance. Finally, the presentation and readability of the report are excellent.’
Picture: From left to right – Jan Wind (Chairman KIVI department Defence and Security), Jasper Kole (Winner Kooy Prize 2026), KLTZ Ivo Marx (Jury President), mother Jasper Kole, Pien (girlfriend Jasper Kole), father Jasper Kole (photo by KIVI).
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