Rolls-Royce Leads Consortium to Develop Next-Generation Hydrogen Combustion Engine

Rolls-Royce is working with a group of five companies and research institutes to develop a highly efficient hydrogen engine for combined heat and power (CHP) systems. This project, called Phoenix (Performance Hydrogen Engine for Industrial and X), is funded by the German Government. The goal is to create an engine with the same power and efficiency as current natural gas CHP units, with up to 2.5 MW output. This is a major step towards carbon-neutral energy using green hydrogen.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection is supporting the Phoenix project with nearly five million euros. Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems CEO, Dr. Jörg Stratmann, highlighted the importance of combustion engines for reliable energy during the transition to renewable sources. The project aims to improve the existing mtu engine technology, which already uses hydrogen, to make a more efficient hydrogen engine.

This project is part of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions in energy systems. Rolls-Royce and its partners aim to achieve higher power and efficiency than current technologies from companies like Siemens and Cummins. The goal is to make a hydrogen engine as powerful as natural gas units, putting Rolls-Royce at the forefront of sustainable energy innovations.

The consortium includes the Technical University of Munich, MAHLE Konzern, Fuchs Lubricants Germany GmbH, the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, and Robert Bosch AG. They will develop key parts of the engine like the injection system, pistons, and ignition system, as well as a new lubricant. The project will take three years and end with a prototype ready for testing.

The German government's support for hydrogen technology is part of its energy transition strategy. Smaller gas-fired power plants can help balance renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Hydrogen CHP plants could become key in providing flexible, reliable, and sustainable energy once they are commercially viable.