Rolls-Royce Power Systems is taking the next step towards a climate-neutral future, as by 2030 it aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% compared to its 2019 level.
This near-term target plays a significant role in Rolls-Royce Group’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest. To accomplish that mission, the role of pioneer goes to Power Systems:
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
states Andreas Schell, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
A key element in achieving these goals is the certification of the mtu engine products, which will run on sustainable fuels from as early as 2023 and then be successively brought into use.
The certification means that the new generation of Series 2000 and 4000 engines, will be qualified to run on second-generation bio-fuels and on E-fuels. The engines are used in a wide variety of applications, for example, in energy supply, commercial shipping, heavy land vehicles, passenger trains and in yachts.
Power Systems is also taking a multi-pillar approach to reducing emissions. Besides using sustainable fuels, the Rolls-Royce business unit is also building on new technologies such as CO2-free fuel cell systems. From 2025, these will be used in power generation solutions.
Furthermore, development engineers are working on engines powered by hydrogen and methanol as well as on concepts for decentralized Power-to-X systems. Other sustainable solutions such as battery energy storage systems, hybrid propulsion systems for marine and rail applications and microgrids already feature in the Power Systems portfolio for decentralized, environment-friendly power solutions.
To make as big an impact as possible in the fight against climate change, the first priority of Power Systems is to re-align its product portfolio towards sustainability. That’s the area we’re concentrating on at present because that’s where we see the biggest potential for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. But this year will also see us setting milestones for gearing our production and value chain to long-term climate neutrality
explains Dr Otto Preiss.
Power Systems is also setting strong milestones with ‘Net Zero at Power Systems’, which follows on from the Rolls-Royce parent company’s ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ programme. In total, the Power Systems products sold in 2019, the year before the pandemic, will generate some 109 million tons of greenhouse gases over their service life in the field.
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