Engineering news
The ground test was conducted on an early concept demonstrator and used ‘green’ hydrogen created using wind and tidal power.
The demonstration “marks a major step towards proving that hydrogen could be a zero-carbon aviation fuel of the future, and is a key proof point in the decarbonisation strategies of both Rolls-Royce and EasyJet,” the engine manufacturer said in an announcement.
Both companies have set out to prove that hydrogen can safely and efficiently deliver power for civil aero engines. They are already planning a second set of tests, with a longer-term ambition to carry out flight tests.
The test took place at an outdoor test facility at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A regional aircraft engine. Green hydrogen was supplied by the European Marine Energy Centre (Emec), and was generated using renewable energy at their hydrogen production and tidal test facility on Eday in Orkney.
“The UK is leading the global shift to guilt-free flying, and today’s test by Rolls-Royce and EasyJet is an exciting demonstration of how business innovation can transform the way we live our lives,” said energy secretary Grant Shapps.
“This is a true British success story… and is a prime example of how we can work together to make aviation cleaner while driving jobs across the country.”
Grazia Vittadini, chief technology officer at Rolls-Royce, said: “The success of this hydrogen test is an exciting milestone. We only announced our partnership with EasyJet in July and we are already off to an incredible start with this landmark achievement. We are pushing the boundaries to discover the zero-carbon possibilities of hydrogen, which could help reshape the future of flight.”
Johan Lundgren, CEO of EasyJet, said: “This is a real success for our partnership team. We are committed to continuing to support this ground-breaking research because hydrogen offers great possibilities for a range of aircraft, including EasyJet-sized aircraft. That will be a huge step forward in meeting the challenge of net zero by 2050.”
The partners are planning a series of further rig tests, leading up to a full-scale ground test of a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 jet engine.
Navigate a turbulent future by attending Aerospace & Defence (28 November – 2 December). Register for FREE today.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.