Rolls-Royce: Flying into a new and sustainable chapter for travel

Elaborating further on the company’s future research programmes on hydrogen propulsion technology and its plans to develop fuel-efficient engines (UltraFan), Matheu Parr, Director at Rolls-Royce Electrical said, “Making jet engines more fuel efficient is a key part of our Net Zero strategy, which is why we are constantly pioneering new technologies. We recently entered the final build phase for the world’s largest aero-engine demonstrator, UltraFan®, providing a suite of technologies to support sustainable air travel for decades to come. The demonstrator engine, with a fan diameter of 140 inches, is being completed at our facility in Derby, UK, prior to its first run – on 100 percent SAF – later this year. It offers a 25 percent fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of the Trent engine. In the nearer term, there are options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan® development programme to current Trent engines to deliver even greater fuel efficiency and reductions in emissions.”

The corporation has also spent substantially on research to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen. It has made two partner announcements recently that are tangible manifestations of this plan. A memorandum of understanding was first announced between Rolls-Royce and the Hyundai Motor Group. By 2025, the partners hope to have completed a demonstration of a hybrid electric-fuel-cell aircraft.

Further, Parr said that together, the strengths of both companies in the aerospace and automotive industries can be strengthened through this relationship. The company have shared goals of becoming market leaders in the field of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) that are bolstered by their partnership. Rolls-Royce just recently made an announcement about teaming up with EasyJet. Narrow-body aircraft, as well as other types of aircraft, will benefit from this ground-breaking research into hydrogen combustion engine technology.

The firms will collaborate to help facilitate a ground test of a Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engine in the UK at an early concept stage. Only a few weeks have passed since the agreement was announced, but now the finishing touches are being put on setting up for the hydrogen ground test. “We have the hydrogen on hand, and our AE 2100 engine is ready to go. We're almost ready to spark, and we can't wait to show you the findings of our test,” said Parr.

Hydro-electric propulsion is expected to be a real game changer in electrification of flight and CO2 reduction in the coming years and many companies are stepping up their research work to align with this new technology. For low-impact, short-distance activities like Urban Air Mobility, battery-powered, all-electric options provide a straightforward option. Hybrid methods that utilise hydrogen fuel cells can be employed to generate electricity for long-range operations, where the battery's weight and efficiency become a problem. Fuel cells allow for scalability in power offerings and enhanced flying range while being a zero-emission, silent, and reliable onboard power source.

Rolls-Royce has an established commitment to knowledge transfer, training and capacity development, across its global operations and business sectors. In the Middle East these have largely been based on Civil Aerospace and Power Systems, where longstanding partnerships have been established, such as in the UAE with Mubadala’s Sanad aviation.

“In terms of where we see ourselves now and, in the future, Rolls-Royce is aiming to become the leading supplier of all-electric and hybrid-electric systems for the Advanced Air Mobility market (AAM). Rolls-Royce Electrical is focused on developing the technology that will power these sustainably focused aircraft. We are now actively working with customers and partners in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market. Our electric propulsion unit has been selected by Vertical Aerospace for its all-electric VX4 aircraft, which is aiming for certification in 2025. In the commuter market, we are working with Wideroe, the Norwegian regional airline, which will be the launch customer for the P-Volt, an all-electric powered 9-seat fixed wing Tecnam aircraft ready to enter service in the late-2020s,” stated Parr.

Informing further on transition to a sustainable public transportation system in the Middle East economy, Rolls-Royce opined that although the firm cannot make predictions about the auto market, the Middle East's voracious hunger for technology bodes well for the region's future, where it will undoubtedly pave the way for innovative approaches to environmentally friendly public transportation. However, Rolls-Royce has two things going for it that bode well for the company's future.

“First, thanks to data, we've been able to significantly improve the effectiveness of our operations. The computational capacity available to us now allows us to more accurately foresee the outcomes of tests on our engine technology. This implies we can create new engines at a much faster rate because we are not spending as much time on physical testing and remanufacturing. It's also having a dramatic effect on how we go about the physical process of building engines, improving both our capacity for forethought and our ability to keep tabs on how things are progressing,” commented Parr.

Adding further on the topic, Parr stated that additive layer manufacturing (3D printing) is having a revolutionary impact. This is giving Rolls-Royce more leeway in terms of design, which in turn can lead to better product performance and less waste than we would otherwise experience when drilling parts. Our newest business jets, for instance, feature ALM-exclusive cooling slots that improve engine efficiency.

Envisioning the world in 2032 from climate-forward transport perspective, Rolls-Royce informed that the company is dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions across all of the markets in which it participates by collaborating with customers, other businesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders. With this comprehensive approach, Rolls-Royce hopes to speed up the technological breakthroughs that could help produce net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and alter the way we travel. This includes the development of all-electric and hybrid-electric aviation propulsion systems. Rolls-Royce isn't just making waves in the aviation industry; the company is also developing game-changing innovations for the maritime and railway industries. Company's hybrid mtu PowerPacks were installed in a hybrid-electric diesel train for passenger and freight service as recently as last year. In addition to lowering emissions by 25%, this can also reduce noise by 75% while operating in electric-only mode.

Further commenting on the recent developments of the company, Matheu Parr stated, “Overall, we see our role as pioneering the power that matters – and that becomes extremely relevant in a future transport landscape where people want to connect sustainably, recognising the fragility of our planet.”

Rolls-Royce is also developing new fuels and technologies to assist the maritime shipping industry cut emissions by half by 2050. Hybrid systems, which use batteries to power electric motors and combustion engines or fuel cells to provide drive energy to charge the batteries, are gaining popularity as an example. E-methanol and other environmentally friendly fuels will be vital in keeping the maritime sector running. The methanol engines that the company has been working on will be released in 2026.