The mtu series 4000 l64 engine underwent tests conducted by Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems business unit, where the company says it showed strong characteristics in efficiency, performance, emissions, and combustion.
With changes made to the engine’s fuel injection, turbochargers, piston design and control, the mtu engine could offer carbon dioxide-neutral power if run on green hydrogen in the future.
Following the successful test, Rolls-Royce plans to install two of the hydrogen-fuelled engines, with a total capacity of 2MW along with three mtu fuel cell systems at the German inland port of Duisburg, as part of the enerPort II project in a bid to achieve climate-neutral energy supply for a new container terminal.
“The engine will serve the market demand for hydrogen solutions in the energy transition and will be available to our customers as a reliable and clean power source for gensets and combined heat and power plants,” said Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Rouce business unit Power Systems.
The development follows on from Rolls-Royce and easyJet announcing the world’s ‘first; run of a modern aero engine on hydrogen in November 2022.
Read more: Rolls-Royce and easyJet complete ‘world’s first’ jet engine test run on hydrogen
Dr. Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems commented, “We see hydrogen as one of the central elements of the energy transition. It can be used for both storage of excess energy and as a fuel, not only for engines but fuel cells and cogeneration plants to generate climate-neutral electricity and heat.”
Rolls-Royce: Setting up for a hydrogen-fuelled future
© Rolls-Royce
“Rolls-Royce is future-proofing its customers. Every engine you buy with Rolls-Royce for natural gas today, can be converted to 100% hydrogen. This ensures that our customers will be sustainable.”
That was the key message from Dr. Daniel Chatterjee, Director Technology Strategy and Regulatory Affairs at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, and Armin Fürderer, Director Hydrogen Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, when they sat down exclusively to discuss the company’s hydrogen activities and hopes for the future with H2 View.
A well-known entity, Rolls-Royce is today functioning under three main pillars of Defence, Power Systems and Civil Aerospace. The Power Systems pillar is where Dr. Chatterjee and Fürderer are focused on hydrogen as the company looks to pioneer a decarbonised future.
Click here to keep reading.