EasyJet and Rolls-Royce recently announced a groundbreaking new partnership. H2ZERO that will play a pioneering role in the development of combustion engines powered by hydrogen. Both companies have pledged to work together on a series of ground engine tests, which will begin later this year, and have a shared ambition to take the technology into the air. The aim of the partnership is to demonstrate that hydrogen has the potential to power a range of aircraft from mid-2030.
While Rolls-Royce will contribute its expertise in engine development and combustion systems, easyJet will contribute its operational knowledge and experience to H2ZERO and also invest directly in the test programme. Through H2ZERO, the companies are supporting an early concept ground test of a Rolls-Royce AE2100 engine in the UK later this year. This will be followed by a full ground test of a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 jet engine – assessing a range of site options, including the Rolls-Royce test facility in Mississippi, USA. The program builds on Rolls-Royce's first hydrogen combustion and fuel system testing with both Cranfield and Loughborough Universities.
“To reach net zero by 2050, we have always said that radical action is needed to tackle the climate impact of aviation. That is why we are so pleased to announce this partnership with Rolls-Royce. The technology emerging from this program has the potential to power easyJet sized aircraft, which is why we will be investing millions of pounds in this programme. To decarbonise on a large scale, progress in developing zero-emission technology for narrow-body aircraft is critical. Together with Rolls-Royce, we look forward to leading the industry to meet this challenge head-on.”
H2ZERO is inspired by the global UN-backed Race to Zero campaign that both companies have joined and commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The recently announced agreement follows a research project that both companies began in 2021, developing market analysis, driving specifications, exploring infrastructure and regulatory requirements to support the use of hydrogen in aviation.
“H2ZERO is a major step forward for Rolls-Royce and we are delighted to be working with a partner who shares a desire to innovate and find new answers to aviation's biggest challenges. At Rolls-Royce, we want to be ready to pioneer sustainability with everything the future needs, be it hydrogen, electricity, sustainable jet fuel or gas turbine efficiency. This agreement further inspires us to go further.”
The H2ZERO partnership was also established in response to detailed studies and market research – including the Fly Zero team at the UK Aerospace Technology Institute and Project NAPKIN (New Aviation Propulsion Knowledge and Innovation Network) – both of which concluded that there is market potential for hydrogen-powered aircraft, according to Easyjet.
