Rolls-Royce Is Testing A Hydrogen Jet Engine

Recently, Britain’s Rolls Royce confirmed that they have fruitfully run aircraft engines on hydrogen. This invention is a pacesetter in aviation, marking a significant milestone towards ensuring that gas could be vital to decarbonizing air travel.

According to the company, the field experiment, which employed a modified AE 2100-A engine, used green hydrogen stemming from wind and tidal energy. Rolls-Royce and its research partner easyJet (EZJ.L) are attempting to demonstrate that hydrogen can effectively and safely power civil aircraft engines.

They stated that they were preparing a second series of testing with the long-term goal of conducting flying tests. Hydrogen is one of several alternative technologies that might aid the aviation profession’s objective of being net zero by 2050.

Airbus collaborates with French-American engine manufacturer CFM International to study hydrogen power technologies.

Nonetheless, the airplane maker warned the European Union in 2021 that almost all airliners would use standard jet engines until at least 2050. Transitioning to hydrogen-powered turbines would necessitate a significant revamp of aircraft structures and infrastructure networks.

Electric engines, which would initially be appropriate for short flights, and recyclable aviation fuel are two more innovations promoted by firms such as Rolls-Royce (SAF). Existing engines can run on a combination of SAF and standard fuels, although it is only available in trace amounts.

The dream could ultimately be possible by mixing carbon collected from the atmosphere with green hydrogen, but the method is energy demanding and not yet readily accessible.