The Rolls-Royce Power Systems business unit aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 compared to its 2019 level through the use of new net zero and zero carbon technologies. This near-term target plays a significant role in Rolls-Royce Group’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest.
The Power Systems division is to be the leader in working towards that ambition. “With ‘Net Zero at Power Systems’, we’re not just taking action to protect the environment. We’re re-aligning our strategy towards eco-friendly energy and propulsion systems. We already see these explicitly as growth opportunities for our business in the coming years," commented Andreas Schell, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
A key element in achieving these goals is the certification of the most important mtu engine products, which will run on sustainable fuels from 2023 and then be successively brought into use. “The certification means that the new generation of Series 2000 and 4000 engines, that currently account for 85% of our sales revenues, will be qualified to run on second-generation bio-fuels and on E-fuels,” said Dr Otto Preiss, chief technology officer and COO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
Power Systems is also building on new technologies such as CO2-free fuel cell systems. From 2025, these will be used in power generation solutions – from balancing energy for compensating fluctuations in the public grid to continuous power and the provision of emergency power. Development engineers are also working on engines powered by hydrogen and methanol as well as on concepts for decentralised Power-to-X systems, to add to other sustainable solutions such as battery energy storage systems, hybrid propulsion systems for marine and rail applications and microgrids already featured in the company’s portfolio.
The company’s first priority is to re-align its product portfolio towards sustainability, which is considered to show the biggest potential for cutting greenhouse gas emissions
To achieve this Power Systems is thus setting strong milestones with ‘Net Zero at Power Systems’, which follows on from the Rolls-Royce parent company's ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ programme. It sees great potential for total emissions reduction in its own range of products, but also believes that the onus is on policy-makers as well to put in place stable framework conditions for sustainable energy solutions in the areas of industry in which it operates, thereby providing clear incentives to participate in the changeover to sustainable products.
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