Rolls-Royce, Zero Petroleum Partner to Promote Fossil-Free Synthetic Fuels

Rolls-Royce entered a joint venture with Zero Petroleum to further develop its power and propulsion systems by integrating fossil-free synthetic fuels in its aviation, marine, and defense engines.

“Rolls-Royce’s gas turbine technology is a strategic national capability and synthetic fuel is how we can continue to support the warfighter in delivering military advantage. Zero is at the cutting-edge of the synthetic fuel industry and we have been impressed by their rapid progress in the short time they have been in existence; we are confident their team can continue that trajectory,” said Dave Gordon, Rolls-Royce Senior Vice President - UK Defense. “We look forward to a long partnership between Rolls-Royce and Zero to develop and demonstrate the future of sustainable energy across our wide range of complex power and propulsion solutions.”

The agreement will demonstrate Rolls-Royce’s engines using Zero’s range of synthetic fuels, including petrol, diesel, and jet fuel. The data collected from engine testing will be used to satisfy the requirements for an international fuel certification standard. Rolls-Royce expects the integration of synthetic fuels into its aviation, marine, and defense engines to reduce carbon emissions associated with non-synthetic burning.

“The world is facing increasingly urgent demands for fossil-fuel alternatives, and it is vital for all companies to develop the solutions to achieve this,” said Paddy Lowe, CEO of Zero Petroleum. “We have proven the genuine capabilities of our fuels in a wide variety of vehicles–including a light aircraft, a supercar and a chainsaw. As we move toward full certification of our fuels, we are starting to put in place the commercial realization of these demonstrations and aim to be running our first large-scale production plant two years from now.”

The synthetic fuel testing agreement between Zero Petroleum and Rolls-Royce will allow for alternative-fuel innovation in transportation and military applications. In addition to providing renewable fuels for engines in these industries, the partnership will promote the transition to net-zero carbon emissions in the Defense sector for end-users of Rolls-Royce engines.