Environmental

Rolls-Royce launches pathway to power net zero economy

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Rolls-Royce launches pathway to power net zero economy

Rolls-Royce has announced its pathway to meeting its target for all new products to be compatible with net zero by 2030, with the whole business compatible by 2050.

“These products power some of the most carbon intensive parts of the economy. We are also introducing short-term targets – linked to executive remuneration – to accelerate the take-up of sustainable fuels, which have a key role to play in the decarbonisation of some of our markets, especially long-haul aviation.”

By 2023, Rolls-Royce states that all in-production civil aero engines to be proven compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuels, contributing to UN Race to Zero breakthrough goal for sustainable aviation.

Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: “At Rolls-Royce, we believe in the positive, transforming potential of technology. We pioneer power that is central to the successful functioning of the modern world. To combat the climate crisis, that power must be made compatible with net zero carbon emissions. This is a societal imperative as well as one of the greatest commercial and technological opportunities of our time. Our products and services are used in aviation, shipping and energy generation, where demand for power is increasing as the world’s population grows, becomes increasingly urbanised, more affluent and requires more electricity. These sectors are also among those where achieving net zero carbon is hardest. As a result, our innovative technology has a fundamental role to play in enabling and even accelerating, the overall global transition to a net zero carbon future. We believe that as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and looks to build back better, global economic growth can be compatible with a net zero carbon future and that Rolls-Royce can help make that happen.”

Nigel Topping, UN High Level Champion for COP26, added: “Winning the race to a zero emission economy by 2050 at the latest requires radical collaboration and technology breakthroughs across energy, transport and the built environment – critical parts of the economy that are also among the hardest to decarbonise. By organising its industrial technology capabilities to deliver the system change society needs, Rolls-Royce is putting itself at the forefront of the defining economic opportunity of our time; one that customers want to buy, investors want to back, and the brightest talent want to apply their skills to.”

Rolls-Royce is already developing the UltraFan, which promises to be 25% more efficient than first generation Trent engines, significantly improving the economics of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The manufacturer is also investing in battery storage technology, demonstrating fuel cells and building a leading position in all-electric and hybrid-electric flight. Next month the Spirit of Innovation all-electric plane will take to the sky as it prepares to break the world all-electric flight speed record.

Under its decarbonisation strategy, Rolls-Royce is focusing on decarbonising its own operations, which includes further advancing the efficiency of its engine portfolio through next generation technologies, to improve the economics of sustainable fuels; and by introducing new low or zero emission products, including fuel cells, microgrids, hybrid-electric and all-electric technologies.

To help accelerate the take-up of SAFs, Rolls-Royce will make all of its civil aero-engines in production compatible with 100% SAF, through testing, by 2023. The current generation of SAFs reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up 70% but this is assumed to increase to 100% as production pathways for synthetically derived fuels mature.

In all-electric aviation, Rolls-Royce has also announced commercial deals with UK’s Vertical Aerospace in the urban air mobility market, and with Italian airframer Tecnam and Norwegian airline Wideroe in the all-electric commuter aircraft.

Click here for Rolls-Royce’s net zero report

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