Rolls-Royce Power Systems has announced that through a ‘Net Zero at Power Systems’ roadmap, it is to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by the year 2030, compared with 2019 levels. The company is to utilize a range of net-zero and zero-carbon technologies to achieve this goal, with a target of becoming net zero by 2050.
“With ‘Net Zero at Power Systems’, we’re not just taking action to protect the environment. We’re re-aligning our strategy toward eco-friendly energy and propulsion systems. We already see these explicitly as growth opportunities for our business in the coming years,” said Andreas Schell, CEO, Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
Rolls-Royce believes a key element in reaching its sustainability targets lies in the certification of mtu engine products that will run on sustainable fuels and be available for use by early 2023. The engines will be used for an array of applications, such as commercial ships and yachts.
“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 biofuels and on E-fuels,” explained Otto Preiss, chief technology officer and COO, Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
In addition to using sustainable fuels, the Rolls-Royce business unit will also build on new technology like CO2-free fuel cell systems, and from 2025, it will put these systems to use in power generation solutions. Alongside this, company engineers are developing concept decentralized power-to-x systems, and engines that run on hydrogen and methanol.
“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 toward sustainability,” commented Preiss. “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.”