Under the Phoenix (Performance Hydrogen Engine for Industrial and X) project — along with a consortium of five companies and research institutes —
Rolls-Royce has started to develop the necessary technologies for a ‘highly efficient first-of-a-kind’ hydrogen combustion engine to drive combined heat and power (CHP) systems.
The consortium aims to generate the same electrical and thermal energy (power density and efficiency) as currently available through natural gas CHP units in the higher power range up to 2.5MW; and when fuelled by green hydrogen, this next-generation stationary energy plant will be able to run in a completely carbon-neutral manner. The project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection with a total of almost 5 million euros.
Jörg Stratmann, Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ CEO, said: “We are convinced that combustion engines will remain an essential part of the provision of a reliable energy supply during the energy transition. We are making them climate-friendly with sustainable fuels, which is why we at Rolls-Royce are investing in the development of next-generation hydrogen engines.”
Rolls-Royce has already developed a gas-powered-combustion MTU engine that can use hydrogen as a fuel, but the Phoenix project will develop the technology for an even more efficient next-generation hydrogen engine. Hydrogen is one of several alternative fuels being used by Rolls-Royce to make its engine portfolio more sustainable.
Moreover, the company is making its portfolio of reciprocating MTU engines compatible with alternative fuels such as hydro-treated vegetable oil and e-fuels; it is also heavily involved in exploring the use of methanol for marine applications.
The joint project is scheduled to run for three years, by which time a technology concept will have been developed, one that is sufficiently mature for use in a complete prototype engine.