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Rolls-Royce advances low-carbon operations with HVO-powered engine testing
Transition to renewable diesel reduces emissions, supports sustainable manufacturing, and accelerates decarbonization across operations and customer applications.
www.rolls-royce.com
Rolls-Royce continues to advance its strategy to become a lower-carbon business by transitioning engine testing operations in Friedrichshafen, Augsburg and Ruhstorf, Germany, to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). By the end of 2025, the company had reduced CO₂ emissions by approximately 3,200 tonnes through the adoption of renewable diesel derived from vegetable oils and waste materials, while also achieving significant reductions in soot particles and nitrogen oxides.
Accelerating decarbonization in operations
The transition began with initial test runs in September 2024 and was progressively expanded across facilities throughout 2025. Today, all key mtu Series 4000 diesel engines for marine, rail and energy applications are tested using HVO in Germany.
At the Friedrichshafen site, CO₂ emissions from engine test benches were reduced by around 25% in 2025 compared to fossil diesel operations. Further improvements are expected in 2026, as test benches will operate on sustainable fuel throughout the entire year.
“Decarbonizing our operations is a clear corporate priority. At the same time, our solutions enable customers to achieve their own sustainability goals,” said Nicholas Templin, Executive Vice President Production, Logistics and Quality Management at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “The transition to HVO marks an important step toward more sustainable manufacturing. Our experience has been consistently positive, demonstrating both operational reliability and environmental benefits.”
Proven compatibility and performance
Since 2021, Rolls-Royce has been testing and approving its core mtu engine portfolio for use with HVO and other sustainable fuels compliant with DIN EN 15940. A key advantage of HVO is its drop-in capability, enabling direct replacement of fossil diesel without requiring engine modifications.
In addition to lowering CO₂ emissions, HVO delivers measurable environmental benefits:
- Up to 40% reduction in particulate emissions
- Up to 8% reduction in nitrogen oxides
- Up to 90% reduction in lifecycle CO₂ emissions, depending on feedstock and production methods
Produced from renewable resources and waste materials, HVO ensures that lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions remain aligned with the carbon absorbed during biomass growth.
Enabling global adoption across industries
HVO is already being widely adopted by Rolls-Royce Power Systems customers across multiple sectors, including rail, marine, mining, data centers and energy systems.
Deutsche Bahn has been using sustainable fuel in its rail operations since 2022, reducing its carbon footprint. Data centers such as Eco Datacenter in Sweden operate backup power systems on HVO, while mining company Rio Tinto deploys the fuel in heavy-duty equipment across sites in California and Australia.
Supporting customers’ energy transition
Rolls-Royce supports customers throughout their transition to sustainable fuels, offering guidance on product compatibility, technical implementation and regulatory compliance.
By combining proven engine technologies with renewable fuels such as HVO, the company is enabling immediate emissions reductions while supporting the long-term transformation toward more sustainable industrial and energy systems.
Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.
www.rolls-royce.com
Enabling global adoption across industries
HVO is already being widely adopted by Rolls-Royce Power Systems customers across multiple sectors, including rail, marine, mining, data centers and energy systems.
Deutsche Bahn has been using sustainable fuel in its rail operations since 2022, reducing its carbon footprint. Data centers such as Eco Datacenter in Sweden operate backup power systems on HVO, while mining company Rio Tinto deploys the fuel in heavy-duty equipment across sites in California and Australia.
Supporting customers’ energy transition
Rolls-Royce supports customers throughout their transition to sustainable fuels, offering guidance on product compatibility, technical implementation and regulatory compliance.
By combining proven engine technologies with renewable fuels such as HVO, the company is enabling immediate emissions reductions while supporting the long-term transformation toward more sustainable industrial and energy systems.
Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.
www.rolls-royce.com
