Neste and Rolls-Royce have agreed to build a strategic partnership on accelerating the use of renewable diesel as a lower-emission solution for diesel engines. 

Nasdaq Helsinki listed Neste and UK technology giant Rolls-Royce share a common vision for renewable fuels to play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in off-highway applications, such as construction and power generation. 



The key focus in the collaboration will be on promoting the use of more sustainable fuels in applications based on the existing internal combustion engine technology, accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable fuels, and increasing knowledge sharing on renewable diesel and the benefits it provides to its users.

Realignment of Rolls-Royce’s mtu brand to drive emission reductions



Under the mtu brand, Rolls-Royce sells high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, power generation, heavy land and rail vehicles, military vehicles, and the oil and gas industry, as well as diesel and gas systems and battery containers for safety-critical applications, continuous power generation, combined heat and power, and microgrids. 



“Through our 'Net Zero at Power Systems' sustainability programme, we have committed to realigning our mtu product portfolio so that by 2030, sustainable fuels and new mtu technologies will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent compared to 2019. This near-term target plays an important role in the Rolls-Royce Group’s Net Zero ambition by 2050 at the latest,” advised Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions from the Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems. “Our collaboration with Neste, the world's leading producer of renewable diesel, will help us achieve our goals and those of our customers.”

Up to 95% emissions reduction over fuel’s lifecycle 


“With Neste MY Renewable Diesel the GHG emissions can be reduced by as much as 75–95 per cent* when emissions over the fuel's life cycle are compared with fossil diesel,” advised Lars Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President Innovations at Neste. “Companies can reduce their climate emissions significantly in an instant by just changing the fuel.” 

Neste MY Renewable Diesel is produced from 100-per-cent renewable raw materials. It is a drop-in fuel, not requiring any modifications to the existing vehicles, energy systems or fuel distribution infrastructures. 



“Since May 2022, Rolls-Royce has approved mtu engines for power generation for renewable diesel and other fuels meeting the EN15940 standard specifications,” informed Michael Stipa, Vice President of Stationary Strategy, Business Development and Product Management at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “The tests we have done show additionally an up to 90-per-cent greenhouse gas reduction, up to 80-per-cent less particulate emissions and an average of eight-per-cent nitrogen oxides reduction. All our tests confirmed full performance levels without modifications to the engines.” 



Rolls-Royce is gradually releasing its main mtu engine series for more sustainable fuels such as renewable diesel, also known as HVO or HVO100, and e-diesel also in other applications such as rail, marine and the construction industry.

“

Both Neste and Rolls-Royce are aiming to reach their climate targets and to support the customers on their sustainability journey,” advised Mats Hultman, Head of OEM Partnerships at Neste. “Collaboration truly plays a key role when aiming for a significant sustainability impact.”

Neste ramps up capacity for renewable products



Neste’s current production capacity for renewable products globally is at 3.3 million tons annually. Neste’s on-going production capacity project at its Singapore refinery and the joint venture with Marathon Petroleum in Martinez, California, will increase the total production capacity of renewable products to 5.5 million tons by the end of 2023, and make Neste the only global provider of renewable fuels and renewable feedstock for polymers and chemicals with a production footprint on three continents. When completed, Neste’s Rotterdam refinery expansion project will further increase the company’s total production capacity of renewable products to 6.8 million tons by the end of 2026. 



*) The GHG emission reduction percentage varies depending on the region-specific legislation that provides the methodology for the calculations (e.g. EU RED II 2018/2001/EU for Europe and US California LCFS for the US), and the raw material mix used to manufacture the product for each market.