Rolls-Royce and consortium partners will develop the necessary technologies for a highly efficient hydrogen combustion engine designed to drive combined heat and power (CHP) systems.

Under the Performance Hydrogen Engine for Industrial and X (Phoenix) project, Rolls-Royce, along with five companies and research institutes, aim to generate the same power density and efficiency as currently available through natural gas CHP units in the higher power range of up to 2.5MW.

Rolls-Royce has already developed a gas-powered combustion mtu engine which can use hydrogen as a fuel, although the Phoenix project will develop the technology for a more efficient hydrogen engine.