(13/11/23) Rolls-Royce has completed compatibility testing
of 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on all its in-production
civil aero engine types, fulfilling a commitment made in 2021 to
demonstrate there are no engine technology barriers to the use of
100% SAF.
Testing involved a variety of ground and flight
tests to replicate in-service conditions, but it was a ground test on a BR710 business jet engine at
the company’s facility in Canada that completed the test regime.
Other
engines tested as part of the programme were: Trent 700, Trent
800, Trent 900, Trent 1000, Trent XWB-84, Trent XWB-97, Trent
7000, BR725, Pearl 700, Pearl 15 and Pearl 10X.
All the tests
confirmed the use of 100% SAF does not affect engine performance.
In addition to proving in-production engine
compatibility, Rolls-Royce has already ensured its new generation
UltraFan engine demonstrator has the same capability. Its first
run, earlier this year, was on 100% SAF.
Rolls-Royce has completed compatibility testing of 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on all its in-production civil aero engine types
“Becoming the first jet engine manufacturer to
publicly confirm all our in-production engines for long-haul
aircraft and business jets are compatible with 100% SAF, is an
important milestone for both Rolls-Royce and the wider aviation
industry,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce. “It’s also
further evidence of our commitment to becoming a net zero company
by 2050 and supporting our customers to do the same.”
The Rolls-Royce SAF story continues later this
month when Trent 1000 engines will power a Virgin Atlantic Boeing
787 Dreamliner on Flight 100, the world’s first transatlantic 100%
SAF flight. The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, sponsored by the
Department for Transport, includes Boeing, University of
Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute.
The return flight, on regular jet fuel, will prove the engine and
aircraft can run on either fuel type without engineering changes.
“The world’s journey to decarbonising flight is
powered by British innovation and backed by the UK Government,
meaning people can continue to travel how they want, in a way
that’s fit for the future,” said Mark Harper, UK Transport
Secretary. “Today’s news demonstrates that Rolls Royce and the UK
are global leaders in decarbonising transport, taking us one step
closer to Jet Zero.”
When the lifecycle of SAF is taken into
consideration, IATA
estimates the net CO2 lifecycle emissions of unblended SAFs are up
to 80% lower than conventional fuel.
Rolls-Royce estimates that to reach Net Zero
flying by 2050, a combination of highly-efficient
latest-generation gas turbines operating on 100% SAF is likely to
contribute around 80% of the total solution.
The international standards body for jet fuel,
ASTM International, currently permits up to a maximum of 50% SAF
to be blended with 50% conventional jet fuel.
All Rolls-Royce
in-production civil aero engines are already certified to operate
on a blend of 50% SAF, and the successful 100% SAF tests will provide
further support for a pathway to commercial flights using 100% SAF.
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