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Compatibility testing found that “there are no engine technology barriers to the use of 100% SAF”, the announcement said.
A ground test on a BR710 business jet engine at the company’s facility in Canada completed the test regime. Other engines tested as part of the programme were the Trent 700, Trent 800, Trent 900, Trent 1000, Trent XWB-84, Trent XWB-97, Trent 7000, BR725, Pearl 700, Pearl 15 and Pearl 10X.
Testing involved a variety of ground and flight tests to replicate in-service conditions. All the tests confirmed the use of 100% SAF does not affect engine performance, the announcement said.
Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic said: “Becoming the first jet engine manufacturer to publicly confirm all our in-production engines for long-haul aircraft and business jets are compatible with 100% SAF is an important milestone for both Rolls-Royce and the wider aviation industry.
“It's also further evidence of our commitment to becoming a net zero company by 2050 and supporting our customers to do the same.”
Simon Burr, group director of engineering, technology and safety, said: “This is an important milestone, not just for Rolls-Royce, but also for the wider civil aerospace industry. We hope the success of these tests provides a level of technical validation that supports those who seek to invest in the production of 100% SAF going forward.”
The company has already ensured its new generation UltraFan engine demonstrator has the same capability. Its first run, earlier this year, was on 100% SAF.
Later this month, a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make the world’s first transatlantic 100% SAF flight. The return flight, on regular jet fuel, aims to prove the engine and aircraft can run on either fuel type without engineering changes.
The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, sponsored by the Department for Transport, also includes Boeing, the University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and the Rocky Mountain Institute.
Transport secretary Mark Harper said: “The world’s journey to decarbonising flight is powered by British innovation and backed by the UK government, meaning people can continue to travel how they want, in a way that’s fit for the future.
“Today’s news demonstrates that Rolls-Royce and the UK are global leaders in decarbonising transport, taking us one step closer to ‘jet zero’.”
Feedstocks for SAF can include used fat, municipal rubbish, and forestry waste. When the lifecycle of SAF is taken into consideration, the International Air Transport Association estimates the net CO2 lifecycle emissions of unblended SAFs are up to 80% lower than conventional fuels.
The international standards body for jet fuel, ASTM International, currently permits up to a maximum of 50% SAF to be blended with 50% conventional jet fuel. All Rolls-Royce in-production civil aero engines are already certified to operate on a blend of 50% SAF.
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