Rolls-Royce says that its new Power Lab business unit will focus on the development of technologies for the marine and infrastructure sectors.
“We’ve made it our mission to leverage the trends we’re seeing in our markets by creating the new drive and energy solutions our customers are looking for to support a climate-neutral future,” said Andreas Schell, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “Therefore, it is essential that the development of our product portfolio is centered on new technologies that enable this future. The Power Lab is an important milestone on the path we’re taking.”
The unit is headed by Dr Peter Riegger, who previously led the company’s Research & Technology division. Riegger sees a willingness to embrace new technologies as the key to success. “Our research engineers now have more technological freedom to develop new ideas and refine them in cooperation with customers and partners,” he said.
The Power Lab will focus on the development of both low-carbon synthetic fuels and fuel cells for power generation and marine propulsion. “In terms of overall efficiency, the fuel cell is the undisputed front-runner and on top of that generates ultra-low to zero emissions,” said Dr Philippe Gorse, whose team is responsible for conceptual work on the fuel cell in the Power Lab. “That makes it a highly attractive option for contributing to the decarbonization of drive systems and power generation.”