Flying further on sustainable fuels
At Rolls-Royce, we’re already working with Norwegian regional carrier, Widerøe, to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft within the decade. Alongside this, we aim to take a leading position in delivering modular and scalable power solutions that enable extended range using sustainable aviation fuels.
Through our research and development into these new capabilities, we’re developing turbogenerator technologies, with provision for hydrogen combustion, that will complement hybrid-electric propulsion, energy distribution and storage systems. This will reduce reliance on traditional fuels and enable aircraft to fly for longer on one charge.
The project, which is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action brings together engineering, energy efficiency and safety expertise from across our European facilities in Germany, Hungary and Norway.
Our experts are exploring turbogenerator design and system integration that will complement the Rolls-Royce electrical propulsion portfolio and enable smart power distribution during flight. The turbogenerator will recharge batteries after take-off or power propellers directly, enabling aircraft to switch between power sources in flight.