Rolls Royce and easyJet successfully test hydrogen aircraft engines: Companies want to prove that hydrogen is a safe and efficient power source for civil aircraft engines.
According to Rolls-Royce and EasyJet, they have completed the world’s first launch of a modern hydrogen-powered aircraft engine. Ground testing of the converted AE 2100-A engine (powered by the Saab 2000) was conducted at the UK MoD field test facility at Boscombe Down.
Rolls Royce and easyJet successfully test hydrogen aircraft engine
The tests used “green” hydrogen from the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC), produced using renewable energy sources at the Edea hydrogen plant in the Orkney Islands, UK.
“This successful hydrogen test is an exciting milestone. We are pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible to explore the possibilities of carbon-neutral hydrogen, which can help change the future of flight,” said Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer of Rolls-Royce.
“We are fully committed to further advancing this groundbreaking research as hydrogen opens up great opportunities for a range of aircraft types, including those used by EasyJet. This will be a big step forward towards the NetZero goal by 2050,” said EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren.
The companies want to prove that hydrogen is a safe and efficient power source for civil aircraft engines. After this first ground launch, further bench tests are planned. Later, the Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine (Bombardier Global 5500 and 6500) will be tested for hydrogen, but the time and place of the tests are not yet known.
Rolls-Royce and easyJet announced their hydrogen collaboration at the Farnborough International Air Show in July. Flight testing is a long-term goal of the partnership.
