EasyJet and Rolls-Royce Achieve Hydrogen Fuel Testing Milestone

easyJet and Rolls-Royce announced Wednesday they have completed a major testing milestone using hydrogen as an aviation fuel, marking a significant step in efforts to reduce aviation emissions. In an industry first, the companies tested a modified Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 aircraft engine reaching full take-off power while running on 100% hydrogen, at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

The milestone is the result of a four-year program between Rolls-Royce, easyJet, and global partners to explore hydrogen as a potential aviation fuel and generate engineering insight for future propulsion applications. EasyJet has played a central role in supporting the development of hydrogen gas turbine technology as part of its long-term decarbonization ambitions.

According to a press release, the ground-testing proved that a modern jet engine can safely operate on hydrogen across a full flight cycle and under demanding conditions.

Hydrogen Engine Test Details

The test involved a modified Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engine operating at full take-off power using 100% hydrogen. The testing took place at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Engineers tested the engine across a simulated flight cycle, including start-up, take-off, cruise, and landing.

Rolls-Royce’s expanded partnership with TCS helped accelerate progress towards its technology goals by adding capability and capacity across critical engineering workstreams.

Statements from easyJet and Rolls-Royce

“This industry-first is a real testament to the progress our partnership with Rolls-Royce has achieved, taking hydrogen from early concept through to full engine build and successful testing in just a few years,”

David Morgan, easyJet Chief Operating Officer

Morgan stated the test marked “an important step” toward easyJet’s net zero carbon emissions pledge and the broader shift toward lower emissions across aviation.

“This program has given us the clearest understanding in the industry of how hydrogen behaves in a modern aero gas turbine,”

Adam Newman, Chief Engineer of the Rolls-Royce Hydrogen Demonstrator Program

Rolls-Royce noted the test program helped validate hydrogen combustion, fuel, and control systems. Engineers also tested fault scenarios and maximum-power operation.

Previous Hydrogen Engine Testing

This test builds on previous work by Rolls-Royce and easyJet. In 2022, the companies ran a Rolls-Royce AE2100 engine on 100% green hydrogen at Boscombe Down in the UK. In 2023, Rolls-Royce tested a full annular combustor from a Pearl engine on 100% hydrogen at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne.