‘Rolls-Royce’ Unveils Roadmap for Net Zero Economy

It aims to prove that all civil aircraft engines in production are compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuels by 2023 and contribute to the UN Race to Zero target for sustainable aviation.

Accelerating the transition to a zero carbon economy

Explaining the steps it has taken to strengthen the net zero carbon economy, Rolls-Royce announced that it has determined actions to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. Stating that they will play a leading role in achieving net zero carbon by 2050 in important areas of the global economy, including aviation, transportation and energy production, within the scope of the roadmap they have drawn, Rolls-Royce explained how they will focus on technological capabilities in this direction. It was stated that this targeted focus includes the faster commissioning of sustainable fuels and the development of new technologies that provide gradual improvements in efficiency. A year after its participation in the UN Race to Zero campaign, the company announced plans to make all new products compatible with net zero by 2030 and all in-service products by 2050. It was stated that these products, which will be made net zero compatible, are already powering some of the most carbon-intensive areas of the economy. In addition, it was emphasized that short-term targets were set to accelerate the use of sustainable fuels, which play a key role in the decarbonization of some markets, especially long-haul aviation. Stating that they are quite advanced in their Power Systems portfolio, the company noted that as a result, they have enough reliable data to define a science-based interim target to reduce the lifetime emissions of new products sold by 35% by 2030.

Paris Agreement provides systems change to meet climate targets

Stating that there is no single solution to reach net zero carbon, the company announced that innovations were made in more than one area simultaneously. In the statements made, it was stated that the speed and prioritization of technological solutions, as well as global coherence and cooperation in policy are key to success. For this reason, it was stated that cooperation with business partners, industry leaders and governments has been expanded in 3 critical areas (transportation, energy and urban transformation) in which they operate in order to accelerate progress. Rolls-Royce emphasized that in these sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, the UN Race to Zero has firmly identified the need for technological breakthroughs to meet the Paris Agreement climate targets and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce, said: “At Rolls-Royce, we believe in the positive and transformative potential of technology. In this direction, we lead the power that is at the center of the effective functioning of the modern world. To combat the climate crisis, this power needs to be aligned with net zero carbon emissions. It’s a societal imperative, and it’s also one of today’s greatest commercial and technological opportunities. Our products and services; It is used in aviation, transportation and energy production, where the demand for power increases as the world population increases, urbanization and welfare increase and more electricity is needed. These sectors are also the sectors where it is most difficult to reach net zero carbon. As a result, our innovative technology has an important role to play in enabling and even accelerating the global transition to a net zero carbon future. As the world struggles to emerge and recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe global economic growth can coincide with a net zero carbon future and Rolls-Royce can help make that happen.”

Nigel Topping, UN Senior Supporter for COP26, said: “To win the race to a zero-emissions economy by 2050 at the latest, radical collaboration and technological breakthroughs are required in the most critical areas of the economy to decarbonize (energy, transport and the built environment). needs. Arranging its industrial technology solutions to deliver the system change society needs, Rolls-Royce puts itself at the forefront of today’s defining economic opportunity, providing us with solutions that customers want to buy, backed by investors and using the smartest talent.”

Pioneering innovations that can drive the transition

Rolls-Royce, which has years of experience in providing solutions to some of the most difficult technological challenges, stated that they have been focusing their efforts on creating sustainable power for some time. Having already commissioned the world’s most efficient civil aircraft engine, the company said that the Trent XWB and its successor UltraFan® engines will be 25% more efficient than the first generation Trent engines and can be sustained.