Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has inked a deal with Air bp for all of aviation fuel supplied for engine testing at the engine manufacturers facilities in Derby and Bristol, UK and Dahlewitz, Germany will be a 10% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend. Deliveries will begin this summer with the 10% neat SAF element totalling around three million litres a year.
Derived primarily from waste-based sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oils the SAF supplied by Air bp will be blended with traditional aviation fuel.
As part of the deal Air bp will also provide the fuel for the first run of the Rolls-Royce UltraFan demonstrator engine, which will be carried out entirely on 100% SAF later this year. The largest aero engine in the world, the UltraFan will deliver improved fuel burn efficiency and 100% SAF capability.
“This agreement delivers on a commitment we made that the fuel for testing and development is a 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend by 2023,” said Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce.
“We want to encourage the use of SAF throughout the aviation industry and this agreement is an example of the firm commitments fuel producers require to support their continued production investment.
“I will be proud and excited to see the UltraFan on our state-of-the-art testbed running for the first time on 100% SAF, creating a new chapter in engineering excellence and sustainable aviation history.”
Meanwhile, Air bp’s Global Sustainability Director, Andreea Moyes, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting Rolls-Royce to achieve their sustainability goals. As bp transitions to an integrated energy company, we are leveraging our expertise in the sourcing of renewable feedstocks, SAF production, logistics and end customer supply. Our ambition is to be the decarbonisation partner in the aviation industry and we are working at pace to promote SAF availability, accessibility and affordability to support global aviation in realising its low carbon ambitions.”
