Rolls-Royce to make 100% hydrogen generators from 2023

Rolls-Royce is developing its mtu gas engine portfolio for power generation and cogeneration to run on hydrogen as a fuel.

The company has announced to launch mtu Series 500 and Series 4000 ready for 25% hydrogen ready from 2022 before converting 100% hydrogen from 2023.

Currently, gensets powered by mtu Series 500 and Series 4000 gas engines can be operated with a gas blending of 10% hydrogen. Beginning in 2022, an operation with a hydrogen content of 25% will be possible.

Rolls-Royce will conduct intensive tests on test benches and pilot installations at customers in 2022. It will market new mtu Series 500 and Series 4000 gas engines beginning in 2023 with up to 100% hydrogen. Furthermore, it will also offer conversion kits to allow already installed gas engines in the market for enabling running on 100% hydrogen.

Rolls-Royce expects that natural gas will initially be the primary fuel in developing the hydrogen ecosystem but see hydrogen as technically and economically possible. Therefore it would continue to build its gas engines for use with green hydrogen.

Rolls-Royce is also building expertise in green hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology. At its Friedrichshafen headquarters, Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division has installed a 250 kW fuel cell demonstrator. The entire hydrogen ecosystem, including the infrastructure for supply, conversion, test benches and future production, is also being mapped in the company’s plants.

Its climate protection programme ‘Net Zero at Power Systems’, the company Power Systems division has set itself the target of saving 35% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 using new technologies.