Rolls-Royce aims at net zero carbon by 2050

Image courtesy Rolls-Royce

This will see Rolls-Royce become net zero carbon in its operations by 2030 and, more fundamentally, set an ambition to play a leading role in enabling the sectors in which we operate to reach net zero carbon by 2050 through the development of new products and technologies. Today Rolls-Royce affirms that position in joining the Business Ambition for 1.5oC campaign.

As part of this commitment, Rolls-Royce will:

• Align its business to the Paris Agreement goals, to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C;
• Use its technological capabilities to play a leading role in enabling vital parts of the economy to get to net zero carbon by 2050, including aviation, shipping, rail, and power generation;
• Continue to, and seek to accelerate, progress against stated company and industry carbon reduction targets and goals;
• Continue our investment in research & development (R&D) in pursuit of ever more efficient products and novel solutions to the climate challenge;
• Publish a clear roadmap later this year, setting out a pathway to enabling net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including interim milestones.

Rolls-Royce highlighted that it has always pursued clean, safe and competitive solutions to deliver society’s vital power needs, yet as the UK emerges from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, this task is now more urgent than ever. To meet the demands of a growing, more connected society, the power that matters must be sustainable, net zero carbon power and Rolls-Royce are determined to use their position as a leading industrial technology company to play a significant role in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Later this year, Rolls-Royce will set out the technology pathways through which it can achieve net zero carbon emissions across its operations and the products it pioneers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought immediate and obvious pressures to our industry and to us as a company, but the long-term challenges our world faces have not gone away,” said Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce. “The world on the other side of this pandemic will need the power that we generate to fuel economic recovery. I absolutely believe the call for that power to be more sustainable and net zero will be stronger than ever. Answering that call is a big, complex challenge and few companies on the planet are better placed than Rolls-Royce to help. We will use our capabilities to play a leading role in enabling the vital sectors in which we operate achieve net zero emissions by 2050. I believe this ambition will drive our competitiveness for the future.”

Rolls-Royce will focus on advancing key technologies, including:

• Driving step changes in the efficiency of engines, as well as working together with the fuels industry to significantly ramp up the availability of lower carbon alternative fuels.
• Leading an ambitious consortium to build small modular nuclear power stations that can provide competitive, clean, low carbon power at scale.
• Accelerating the development of disruptive new technologies and capabilities for future low emission products, including pioneering the electrification of flight.
• Continuing to deploy hybrid electric systems today in the rail and marine markets and to transition those capabilities into aviation.
• Delivering microgrid solutions to provide vital stability and back-up power, expanding the uptake of renewable energy by removing the challenge of volatility.
• Planning to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from our operations and facilities by 2030, by using 100% renewable energy, pioneering closed loop manufacturing techniques on high value metals, and deploying our cutting-edge microgrid capabilities to support our estate.

Nigel Topping, UN High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26 added: “With 2.6 billion people and over half of global GDP now covered by net zero goals, Rolls-Royce is positioning itself to meet huge growth in demand for net zero transport and power. As a company operating in some of the hardest to abate sectors, this a big act of industrial technology leadership.”

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires systemic change across industries and borders. As an industrial technology leader, Rolls-Royce is well placed to work across those parts of the economy and industry that are the hardest to abate.

Rolls-Royce stated it is committed to solving complex problems and will continue investment in research and development that will ensure that its business is not only compatible with a net zero carbon future but essential for it.