Rolls-Royce signs sustainable aviation fuel agreement with Air BP for engine tests
Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement with Air BP that will reduce lifecycle carbon emissions for gas turbine tests carried out at three sites and support one of the organization’s key sustainability commitments.
It ensures that all of the aviation fuel supplied for engine testing at Rolls-Royce facilities in Derby and Bristol, U.K., and Dahlewitz, Germany, will be a 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend.
The SAF is derived primarily from waste-based sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oils and will be blended with traditional aviation jet fuel by Air BP. Deliveries will begin this summer and the 10 percent neat SAF element will near 800,000 gallons a year.
In addition, Air BP will provide the fuel for the very first run of the Rolls-Royce UltraFan® demonstrator engine, which will be carried out entirely on 100 percent SAF later this year. UltraFan will deliver new levels of aviation sustainability in terms of improved fuel burn efficiency and 100 percent SAF capability. The demonstrator will be the largest aero engine in the world.
“This agreement delivers on a commitment we made that the fuel for testing and development is a 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel blend by 2023,” said Chris Cholerton, president of civil aerospace for Rolls-Royce. “We want to encourage the use of SAF throughout the aviation industry and this agreement is an example of the firm commitments fuel producers require to support their continued production investment. I will be proud and excited to see the UltraFan on our state-of-the-art testbed running for the first time on 100 percent SAF, creating a new chapter in engineering excellence and sustainable aviation history.”
Andreea Moyes, Air BP’s sustainability director, added, “We are delighted to be supporting Rolls-Royce to achieve their sustainability goals. As BP transitions to an integrated energy company, we are leveraging our expertise in the sourcing of renewable feedstocks, SAF production, logistics and end customer supply. Our ambition is to be the decarbonization partner in the aviation industry and we are working at pace to promote SAF availability, accessibility and affordability to support global aviation in realizing its low-carbon ambitions.”
The three Rolls-Royce testing centers of excellence cover engines for different aerospace sectors—Derby, civil aviation; Bristol, defense, and Dahlewitz, near Berlin, business aviation. Engines from the Trent, EJ 200 and Pearl families are routinely tested before delivery to customers, while product-improvement tests are also regularly conducted.
Rolls-Royce has previously committed to ensuring all of its Trent and Business Aviation engines are compatible with 100 percent SAF by 2023. All Trent and Business Aviation engines are already certified and ready to operate on a 50 percent SAF blend with traditional fossil-based aviation jet fuel.
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