Tuesday 22 March 2022

Rolls-Royce and Air bp ink sustainable aviation fuel deal for engine tests

Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement to buy sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Air bp for its engine tests.

It will help reduce lifecycle carbon emissions for the testing of gas turbines carried out at three sites and support one of Rolls-Royce's key sustainability commitments.

It ensures all of the aviation fuel supplied for engine testing at its facilities in Derby and Bristol in the UK and Dahlewitz in Germany will be a 10% SAF blend.

The SAF, derived primarily from waste-based sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oils, will be blended with traditional aviation jet fuel, with deliveries stating this summer.

The 10% SAF will amount to around three million litres a year, according to Rolls-Royce.

Air bp will also provide the fuel for the very first run of the Rolls-Royce UltraFan demonstrator engine, which will be carried out using entirely 100% SAF later this year.

Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce said: “This agreement delivers on a commitment we made that the fuel for testing and development is a 10% 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.

“I will be proud and excited to see the UltraFan on our state-of-the-art testbed running for the first time on 100% SAF, creating a new chapter in engineering excellence and sustainable aviation history.”