Tata Consultancy Services and Rolls-Royce have successfully run a modern aviation gas turbine powered by 100 percent hydrogen through a complete simulated flight cycle for the first time, marking a significant step in the development of more sustainable aircraft engines for the future.
The modified engine was powered by pure hydrogen throughout all phases of a simulated flight, from takeoff and cruise to landing. The tests studied combustion technology, fuel systems and engine control, among other things.
The test is the result of a four-year research program that Rolls-Royce and easyJet began in 2022. IT and consulting company Tata Consultancy Services, TCS, joined as an engineering partner in 2024 and has contributed expertise in areas such as testing, validation and data analysis.
TCS has also worked with systems and software engineering, control electronics and risk management.
“This test is a crucial step towards more sustainable aviation. We have gained very valuable insights into how pure hydrogen works in a turbine under realistic conditions,” says Adam Newman, chief engineer for the hydrogen program at Rolls-Royce.
Will contribute to the next generation of engines
The knowledge from the tests will be used in continued work on future propulsion systems, including Rolls-Royce's UltraFan.
“The results show what we can achieve when cutting-edge engineering and digital technology come together. At TCS, we are proud to be driving the development of the fossil-free aviation of the future with Rolls-Royce,” says Anupam Singhal, Head of Manufacturing at TCS.
Aviation is estimated to be responsible for around 2–3 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. Hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide when burned, making the technology interesting as a possible alternative for future aviation.
The test programme has been carried out in collaboration with several stakeholders, including easyJet, NASA and the UK Health and Safety Authority (HSE). TCS and Rolls-Royce are now continuing their work on developing hydrogen-based aeronautics.
