easyJet and Rolls-Royce have completed the first test of a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 aircraft engine modified to run entirely on hydrogen fuel.
The test took place at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Engineers demonstrated that the modern jet engine, suitable for single-aisle aircraft, operated safely on gaseous hydrogen throughout a full simulated flight cycle, including startup, takeoff, cruise, and landing.
This achievement forms part of a four-year program involving Rolls-Royce, easyJet, and international partners to explore hydrogen as an aviation fuel and develop technical knowledge for future propulsion solutions. Initial modifications adapted the engine to replace conventional fuel with hydrogen, addressing both carbon emissions and non-carbon dioxide emissions through a specific combustion program.
The test advances efforts to reduce aviation emissions by validating hydrogen’s potential in existing engine designs.