meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Rolls-Royce charts net-zero path

26 October 2023

UK-headquartered Rolls-Royce aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions from its operations and facilities, excluding product testing and development, by 2030.

This entails building energy-efficient facilities and a significant reduction in energy consumption and waste sent to landfills.

Meeting its long-term sustainable target will inevitably require facilitating its customers – which range from aircraft and transport operators to utilities – meet theirs.

“We have a long history of bringing to market ever more efficient technologies in aviation, transport and mobility and nuclear power generation,” says John Kelly, Rolls-Royce’s president for the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (Meta) region. “These sectors being hard-to-abate or decarbonise does not stop us [from pursuing energy efficient solutions].”

Sustainable jet fuel

The company recognises that the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (saf) and other synthetic fuels produced in a non-carbon-generative process, among other technologies, will play a key role in decarbonising the aviation sector.

Kelly says Rolls-Royce continues to work on and invest in more efficient gas turbine jet engines, such as the UltraFan, a demonstrator aero engine that is designed to burn 25 per cent less fuel compared to the first generation of its Trent jet engine.

UltraFan can be used for narrowbody and widebody aircraft that may be developed from the 2030s. It will also be ready to run on saf from day one of service.

“Regulations and enabling factors are key to reducing the carbon footprint of jet engines,” says Kelly.

Related read: Emirates and Shell Aviation sign sustainable fuel deal

It is understood that Rolls-Royce's ongoing research and tests drawn from initiatives such as its UltraFan programme will also contribute towards improving the efficiency of aircraft fleets and operators.

“We do not produce saf, but we work with partners and regulators and fuel offtakers to look for ways to improve its commercial viability.

“We have tested commercial and business aircraft limit of 50 per cent saf, and established that we can operate a flight safely using 50 per cent saf.  We are also pushing to get to 100 per cent, which should lead to increased offtake of saf in future,” says Kelly.

The key issues today for saf, as well as other synthetic fuels, include price point, availability and competitiveness compared to conventional jet fuel.

“The key is to scale up not just saf but other synthetic fuels from manufactured chemicals, or fuels that are produced in a non-carbon-generative way," the executive explains. "This requires regulations and government incentives in line with net-zero targets. It also requires ongoing dialogues, as this obviously has a political angle."

Kelly says events like the upcoming Cop28 climate summit and the airshow in Dubai can foster an environment that allows these dialogues and conversations to advance.

Hydrogen fuel

Beyond retrofits and the development of energy-efficient jet engines, Rolls-Royce is also looking at other alternative technologies, such as hydrogen both as a direct fuel source for aircraft as well as for the electrification of transport.

“We have conducted ground tests on engines using hydrogen as a direct fuel source with excellent results. Electrification in airport shuttles and mobility also offers opportunities, leading to shorter commute time or minimising traffic and reducing or eliminating fossil fuel requirement,” explains Kelly.

Air taxis are another area of opportunity, with air taxi engines being tested today.

Kelly reiterates the need for ongoing dialogues with the region’s sovereign wealth funds and regulators, among others, about how existing products across its business can be improved.

“Technology is a route to decarbonise. We have a range of solutions that will be available at different times as we get to net-zero… these solutions offer potential incremental benefits to users and customers.”

New nuclear

Small modular reactors (SMR), or the so-called 'new nuclear', is another non-carbon power resource that Rolls-Royce has up its sleeve.

“We have products that can produce 470MW of electricity, which is another option for a non-carbon power source,” says Kelly. 

“On one hand, we try to help enable synthetic fuels for aviation, on the other we also have SMR that helps enable synthetic fuels or enable utility companies and electricity grids to produce non-carbon power.”

While Rolls-Royce supports the development of wind and solar energy, both require tremendous amounts of cement and steel and using SMRs can help alleviate the carbon intensity of these materials and technologies.

“SMRs help scale up synthetic fuel production in a non-carbon-generative way,” says Kelly.

With at least two to three jurisdictions in the Middle East and North Africa region looking at SMRs, Kelly confirms ongoing discussions with those countries.

Related read: Small reactors top nuclear agenda

The confluence of significant growth and the drive to achieve long-term economic programmes such as Saudi Vision 2030, which in turn places a strong focus on manufacturing and development, means Rolls-Royce is on hand to explore partnerships and potential local production for relevant products or technologies.

“We are here to partner…  the Rolls-Royce vision is to enable local development and to be able to manufacture globally and foster a global supply chain,” he concludes.

Photos: Rolls-Royce

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11241190/main4813.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Dubai approves metro extension to Al-Maktoum airport

    10 November 2026

    Dubai’s Executive Council has approved a project to extend the Dubai Metro’s Route 2020 to Al-Maktoum International Airport City, with passenger services scheduled to begin operations in 2031.

    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the decision following a council meeting held during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026.

    The rail project forms part of a package of strategic schemes worth over AED11bn ($3bn) approved by the council.

    The wider approvals include a comprehensive framework to upgrade community facilities and public services by 2040, with priority given to residential communities for UAE citizens.

    The project approval follows the procurement of detailed design work for the rail link. MEED exclusively reported in September that Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) had awarded US-based engineering consultancy Aecom the design contract for the Route 2020 extension.

    The planned extension will run for about 3 kilometres from the existing Expo 2020 terminus station to connect directly with the West Terminal of Al-Maktoum International airport. The scheme will add two new stations to the network.

    The existing Route 2020 corridor is a 15km spur that branches off the Dubai Metro Red Line at Jebel Ali station. It comprises 11.8km of elevated viaduct and 3.2km of underground track, serving five elevated and two underground stations.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21301168/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Egypt seeks to accelerate gas pipeline project with Libya

    10 November 2026

    Egypt aims to accelerate a range of energy projects with Libya, including gas pipeline links, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

    Other projects include a scheme to refine Libyan crude in Egypt and an electricity interconnection.

    Abdelatty’s comments came in a ministry statement after a meeting with Libya’s acting oil and gas minister, Khalifa Abdulsadek, in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

    Egypt is currently trying to address an energy squeeze that has escalated ​due to elevated global liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices since the ​start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February of this year.

    In his statement, Abdelatty called ‌for ⁠cooperation on petroleum products and the completion of projects to refine Libyan oil in Egypt and re-export ​it.

    He also said that Abdulsadek would ​visit ⁠Cairo soon to continue technical talks with Egypt’s petroleum and electricity ministers.

    The ⁠statement ​did not provide ​details on costs or the status of the projects.

    Plans for new gas pipeline links with Libya are just one of several ambitious gas pipeline plans Egypt is pursuing.

    In October, the Italian oil and gas company Eni signed the main engineering, procurement, construction and drilling contracts for a project to export gas from reserves in Cyprus using a major pipeline to Egypt.

    The project includes contracts with several companies that will develop infrastructure in both Egypt and Cyprus.

    The awards included a $170m contract won by Egypt’s Petrojet for a new onshore gas pipeline in Egypt that will help transport gas to Egypt’s Damietta LNG facility.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21273777/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Omani company signs Kuwait drilling contract

    10 November 2026

    Oman’s MBPS has signed a drilling rig contract worth $127.3m with state-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

    Under the terms of the deal, MBPS will supply and operate three newly built 1,000-horsepower land rigs for drilling and workover operations, according to a company statement.

    The UAE-based oil field services company Adnoc Drilling is a majority shareholder in MBPS.

    The chief executive of MBPS, Salim Al-Harthy, said: “This is another important milestone for MBPS and a strong reflection of KOC’s confidence in our capabilities.

    “It further strengthens our presence in Kuwait and our commitment to delivering safe, reliable and efficient drilling and workover services across the region.”

    He : “My sincere appreciation to KOC for their continued trust, and to our MBPS team for their hard work and dedication in making this possible.”

    In October last year, KOC said it planned to spend KD1.2bn ($3.92bn) on its exploration drilling programme through 2030.

    The spending was part of a KD9.8bn budget, the company’s biggest ever, allocated for drilling and maintenance of up to 6,193 wells by the end of this decade.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21273731/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Adnoc Drilling wins $315m Kuwait offshore rig deals

    10 November 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group) subsidiary, Adnoc Drilling, has been selected for two offshore drilling rig contracts in Kuwait with a combined maximum value of KD96.55m ($315m), according to documents published by Kuwait’s Official Gazette.

    The Higher Purchasing Committee of state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has given approval for its subsidiary Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to award the contracts to the Abu Dhabi-listed drilling contractor after Adnoc Drilling submitted the lowest compliant bids.

    While the maximum combined contract value has been confirmed as KD96.55m ($315m), the individual contract values, rig identities, durations and expected commencement dates have not been disclosed.

    The approval comes as Kuwait moves to expand offshore exploration and development following a series of discoveries in its territorial waters.

    It is currently unclear how Kuwait will provide security for its planned offshore oil and gas projects in the Gulf, adding uncertainty to the outlook for these plans.

    On 5 October, KPC chief executive Shaikh Nawaf Al-Sabah reiterated the company’s commitment to developing three major offshore oil discoveries in the region.

    KPC initially launched the Al-Seef project to develop the three fields in February, just weeks before the US and Israel attacked Iran, triggering a regional war that has sparked a crisis in Kuwait’s oil and gas sector.

    The regional conflict has seriously disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key export route for Kuwaiti oil.

    The war has also led to dozens of attacks on Kuwaiti oil and gas infrastructure, with at least one causing damage to a Kuwaiti offshore platform.

    This attack took place on 12 July, when a drone struck a KOC offshore drilling platform in Kuwaiti territorial waters, causing damage to the platform and injuring one worker.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21273678/main2430.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Aramco-backed firm tenders logistics hub expansion

    9 November 2026

     

    Asmo, the logistics joint venture of Saudi Aramco and DHL Supply Chain, has set a 15 November deadline for a contract to expand the logistics complex at King Salman Energy Park (Spark) in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

    The logistics hub will add over 124,000 square metres (sq m) at Spark.

    Al-Khobar-based engineering firm House of Consulting Office is the project consultant.

    The tender for the expansion works comes shortly after Asmo awarded an estimated SR820m ($218m) contract to build the logistics complex’s first phase in May this year.

    The overall project will feature a 43,000 sq m, temperature-controlled Grade A warehouse; more than 3,000 sq m of offices and staff amenities; 5,300 sq m dedicated to chemicals storage; and an open yard covering about 1.2 million sq m.

    Asmo signed an agreement with Bahrain‑headquartered Arcapita Group Holdings in February to deliver the project at Spark.

    Planned for large-scale industrial use, the site is expected to incorporate advanced warehouse and building management systems, end-to-end digital connectivity, automation and robotics.

    It will also be developed in line with internationally recognised sustainability standards, featuring solar photovoltaic readiness, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and a target of Leed Gold certification.

    The development aims to support the next stage of Saudi Arabia’s logistics and supply chain expansion.

    Under the deal structure, Arcapita will provide funding and retain ownership of the asset, while Asmo will develop the facility and then lease and operate it under a 22-year occupational lease.

    According to a statement, “the scheme will be executed via a forward-funding model, underscoring a long-term commitment to national infrastructure”.

    Asmo added that this will be its first purpose-built logistics centre and one of four strategic locations planned to anchor its nationwide logistics network, aligned with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/21267403/main.gif
    Yasir Iqbal