Rolls-Royce and Air BP have struck a deal to cut carbon emissions during gas turbine engine tests at three sites, including Derby and Bristol.
The engineering giant has its civil aerospace division at Sinfin, where it designs, develops and builds aero engines. It said the deal with the specialised aviation division of British BP supports its sustainability commitments.
It will see aviation fuel supplied for engine testing at Rolls-Royce facilities in Derby, Bristol, and Dahlewitz, in Germany, made up of a 10 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend.
The chemical and physical characteristics of Sustainable Aviation Fuel – which is produced from sources such as cooking oil, plant oils, municipal waste, waste gases, and agricultural residues – are almost identical to conventional jet fuel and can be safely mixed with it. It can also use the same supply infrastructure and does not need aircraft or engines to be adapted.
Rolls-Royce said unblended it has the potential to reduce net CO2 emissions by more than 75 per cent compared to conventional jet fuel, with the possibility of further reductions in future.
Under the new deal it will be blended with traditional aviation jet fuel by Air BP.
Rolls-Royce president of civil aerospace Chris Cholerton said: “This agreement delivers on a commitment we made that the fuel for testing and development is a 10 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend by 2023.
“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.”
Deliveries of the greener fuel will begin this summer and the 10 per cent neat SAF element will total around three million litres a year.
Air BP will also provide the fuel for the very first run of the Rolls-Royce UltraFan demonstrator engine, which will be carried out at its new testbed at Derby entirely on 100 per cent SAF later this year.
According to Rolls-Royce, the UltraFan will deliver new levels of aviation sustainability in terms of improved fuel burn efficiency and 100 per cent SAF capability. The demonstrator will be the largest aero engine in the world.
Mr Cholerton said: “I will be proud and excited to see the UltraFan on our state-of-the-art testbed running for the first time on 100 per cent SAF, creating a new chapter in engineering excellence and sustainable aviation history.”
Andreea Moyes, sustainability director at Air BP, said: “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 decarbonisation partner in the aviation industry, and we are working at pace to promote SAF availability, accessibility and affordability to support global aviation in realising its low carbon ambitions.”
