Rolls-Royce says it has completed tests of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on all its civilian aero-engines ahead of first in-flight use. The Derby engineering giant has been carrying out gas turbine engine tests using the low carbon fuel to prove that there is no reason why the greener fuel cannot be used to replace dirty aviation fuel.

Testing has involved a variety of ground and flight tests to replicate typical flying conditions, with Rolls-Royce stating, “all the tests confirmed the use of 100 per cent SAF does not affect engine performance”.

Later this month SAF will be used to power the Trent 1000 engines in a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Flight 100 – the world’s first SAF powered transatlantic flight.

A Virgin Atlantic led consortium, sponsored by the Department for Transport, includes Boeing, the University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. The return flight will use regular jet fuel to show how engines and aircraft can run on either fuel type without engineering changes.

The chemical and physical characteristics of Sustainable Aviation Fuel – which is produced from sources such as cooking oil, plant oils, municipal waste, waste gases and agricultural residues – are almost identical to conventional jet fuel and can be safely mixed with it. It can also use the same supply infrastructure and does not need aircraft or engines to be adapted.

Rolls-Royce has said that unblended it has the potential to reduce net CO2 emissions by more than 75 per cent compared to conventional jet fuel, with the possibility of further reductions in future.

Rolls-Royce said that the IATA (International Air Transport Association) estimates the net CO2 lifecycle emissions of unblended SAFs could be up to 80 per cent lower than conventional fuel.

Rolls-Royce said it wants to achieve Net Zero flying by 2050, and its civil aero engines are already certified to operate on a blend of 50 per cent SAF.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic said: “Becoming the first jet engine manufacturer to publicly confirm all our in-production engines for long-haul aircraft and business jets are compatible with 100 per cent SAF, is an important milestone for both Rolls-Royce and the wider aviation industry.

“It's also further evidence of our commitment to becoming a net zero company by 2050 and supporting our customers to do the same."