Rolls-Royce plc - Experts & Thought Leaders

Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division is supplying a total of eight mtu emergency power generators for two fully electric fast ferries belonging to the Spanish shipping company, Baleària. From 2027, the ships will cover the 18 nautical miles between Tarifa in Spain and Tangier in Morocco using electric power, thereby opening up the first “green corridor” between Europe and Africa. The project is considered a milestone for CO2-neutral mobility at sea and is supported by an international network of partners consisting of shipping companies, shipyards, port authorities, energy suppliers, and other companies. Conventional on-board power systems On behalf of the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon, four mtu 20V4000M35S emergency power generators will be supplied for each of the two ships. With an output of 2,840 kilowatts each, the generators will ensure the power supply in case of need – for example, if the ferries’ on-board batteries cannot be charged in port as planned. Unlike conventional on-board power systems, however, their function goes far beyond simply supplying the electrical systems: in an emergency, the mtu gensets can also secure the entire propulsion system of the ferries. Ideal for use in high-speed ferries “For us as a shipyard, the integration of powerful, compact systems is crucial –especially in innovative ship projects such as this one. The mtu gensets from Rolls-Royce meet these requirements perfectly and help to provide additional backup for the ferries' electrical systems,” said Ricardo Garcia, Head of Marketing, Sales & Business Development at Astilleros Armon. Thanks to their high-power density, low weight, and compact design, mtu engines are ideal for use in high-speed ferries. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2026, with the ferries entering regular service in 2027. Emission-free shipping and reliable system technology “The project is a prime example of how emission-free shipping and reliable system technology go hand in hand,” said Phil Kordic, Senior Expert, Commercial Marine Business, at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “Our mtu engines make an important contribution to the operational safety and efficiency of these state-of-the-art ships – powerful, lightweight and perfectly tailored to maritime requirements.” The two identical catamarans are fully electric, reach a maximum speed of up to 26 knots, and can accommodate 804 passengers and 225 vehicles.

Rolls-Royce held a successful F130 engine Critical Design Review (CDR), clearing the way for final development, test, and production efforts to proceed and taking another step towards delivering the upgraded B-52J to the United States Air Force. This milestone is the culmination of over two years of detailed design work and close collaboration between teams at Rolls-Royce, the Air Force and Boeing. The engine testing program is on track to begin altitude testing in February 2025 at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Partnership with the U.S. Air Force and Boeing Candice Bineyard, Director, Early Life Cycle & Naval Programs – Defense, said: "We’re extremely proud to have delivered the F130 CDR milestone on-time for the B-52J, and grateful for our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force and Boeing." Candice Bineyard adds, "Throughout the detailed design phase, our teams have executed a rigorous process in close collaboration with our partners. We’re excited to start the production work to deliver this incredible and highly reliable engine for the B-52J." Rolls-Royce’s Indianapolis facilities Sea-level testing gathered vital act data by driving the initial software out for the engine in Test Cell 114 Rolls-Royce also recently completed the first phases of F130 sea-level tests in its Indianapolis facilities and wrapped up Rapid Twin Pod Tests at NASA Stennis Space Centre this summer. Sea-level testing gathered critical performance data by running the initial software release for the engine in Test Cell 114. The test cell was recently revamped as part of a $1 billion investment in modernising Rolls-Royce’s Indianapolis facilities to deliver innovation and advanced manufacturing for the Air Force and other customers with American labour. Integration of the F130 engine The F130 engines will be manufactured, assembled and tested in Indianapolis, Rolls-Royce’s largest production facility in the U.S. Testing at NASA Stennis marked the first time F130 engines were tested in the dual-pod engine configuration of the B-52 aircraft. Rapid Twin Pod Tests played a key role in validating Rolls-Royce’s analytical predictions, further de-risking the integration of the F130 engine onto the B-52J and meeting test goals.

Rolls-Royce is developing new and advanced concepts to show navies how they can meet the growing challenges of undersea national defence. These include a significantly more powerful mtu submarine charging unit and mtu NautIQ automation systems for underwater ship control. Both will be unveiled by Rolls-Royce Power Systems at the Euronaval naval exhibition taking place from 4 to 7 November in Paris, France, underlining Rolls-Royce's role as a solutions provider in this special area of shipbuilding. Onboard power generator The latest and future generations of submarines require more electrical power than their predecessors. This is due, on the one hand, to the ever more extensive electronic equipment of the submarines. On the other hand, the modern battery storage systems on the ships allow faster charging than before. At the same time, there is a need for a space-saving design. Rolls-Royce is addressing these requirements with the concept of a more powerful mtu onboard power generator driven by the future 20-cylinder version of the mtu Series 4000 submarine engine. Twelve-cylinder boat engine With eight more cylinders, the 20-cylinder version will have a correspondingly higher power output Like the twelve-cylinder boat engine, of which many units have already been built, it is based on the marine version of the mtu Series 4000. With eight more cylinders, the 20-cylinder version will have a correspondingly higher power output. This means that the batteries can be charged much faster, minimising the surface time for the submarine. Compact genset Furthermore, the compact genset makes it possible to save space in the submarine hull, for example by having two of the 20-cylinder on-board power generators take over the tasks of the previous three smaller gensets. Compared to the surface version, the submarine variant has been modified in its charge air and combustion systems so that the boats are difficult to locate. The company has conducted a study that proves such a charging unit is suitable for integration into modern submarine designs. mtu NautIQ: underwater ship automation The system, which integrates numerous standard systems, controls the propulsion system and power supply   With the mtu NautIQ Master automation system, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is extending its offering to include sophisticated, integrated control and monitoring systems for sub-surface platforms. The system, which integrates numerous standard systems, controls both the propulsion system and the power supply, monitors the condition of the units, and can be expanded with a range of modules such as damage control, onboard training, alarm and monitoring, navigation, and communication systems. This means that all integrated systems can be controlled via a standardised user interface. Naval surface vessels mtu NautIQ Master has already proven itself for naval surface vessels. Rolls-Royce is applying this experience underwater as well.  This means that Rolls-Royce is also moving up from component supplier to solution provider in the submarine market.