Rolls-Royce officially opened a new €30 million assembly plant for its mtu Series 2000 engines in Kluftern near Friedrichshafen, Germany. The company said the move highlights the continuing role that the internal combustion engine is set to play in the energy transition through the use of sustainable fuels.
Relocating the assembly of the mtu Series 2000 engines to Kluftern will make room for modernizing the existing assembly halls at Plant 2 in Friedrichshafen, which will provide long-term production space for the Series 4000 engine.
The new production building has been designed to be highly energy-efficient and climate-friendly. For example, a 1.2 MW-peak photovoltaic system provides green electricity, e-charging columns ensure clean mobility solutions, and an intelligent building control system alongside other equipment measures will ensure energy-efficient operation.
Rolls-Royce is focusing on developing engines that can run on a wide range of sustainable fuels, replacing fossil fuels and significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The company cited renewable diesel, hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), as an important step on the road to decarbonization. Many mtu engines from Rolls-Royce have already been released for use with this sustainable fuel. HVO enables up to 90% CO2 reduction as well as reducing particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions. It can be produced on an industrial scale from hydrogenated vegetable oil and waste materials from the catering and food industries.
