Rolls-Royce's new hybrid engine could reduce aviation emissions by 30%

Rolls-Royce, in collaboration with the Norwegian research organization SINTEF, is developing a hybrid aircraft engine that combines electric motors with traditional combustion engines to reduce aviation emissions by up to 30%, particularly for domestic short-haul flights. This hybrid technology aims to replicate the success of hybrid cars by using both electricity and fuel to lower CO2 output while maintaining reliability. A key technical challenge involves creating effective electrical insulation for the engine’s stator, which must withstand high voltages and frequencies (up to 50 kHz) without compromising lifespan or safety—standards that currently do not exist in the aviation industry. The initiative is part of broader efforts to reduce the aviation sector’s environmental impact, which accounts for about 4% of the EU’s total emissions. SINTEF estimates that hybrid aircraft could cut the EU’s CO2 emissions by around 1%. The focus on short domestic routes, such as Trondheim-Oslo, is due to the weight limitations of batteries compared to fuel