Rolls-Royce in Indy Scores Federal Grant

In October

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Research and development efforts at the Rolls-Royce facilities in Indianapolis will receive an $11 million boost as part of a federal public-private partnership. The CLEEN II program from the Federal Aviation Administration focuses on improving aircraft engine efficiency and developing more sustainable sources of fuel. Rolls-Royce engineers and researchers in Indianapolis will evaluate alternative product designs in an effort to find "the most promising" emission-reducing technologies. The program also involves GE Aviation, which has announced major investments in Indiana, including a $100 million jet engine operation in Lafayette.

CLEEN II is a five-year program. In all, the FAA plans to put a total of $125 million toward the program, with matching funds expected from the five companies involved, which are Boeing, GE, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce North America. CLEEN is the acronym for the FAA’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise initiative. The program’s goals include developing technology that burns one-third less fuel than current version, creating alternative fuels that can be used without modifications and a nitrogen oxide emissions reduction during landing and takeoff of 60 below international standards set in 2004.

Rolls-Royce North America Vice President of Public Affairs Joel Reuter says roughly 1,400 engineers work at the Indianapolis campus. He says they, along with the rest of the company, are focused on building engines with higher power and greater efficiency and this grant will support those efforts.

Rolls-Royce Program Director for U.S. Civil Research and Technology Brad Belcher "our vision is to create better power for a changing world. We are dedicated to improving environmental performance, and lower emissions and fuel consumption. This second phase of CLEEN research will help us deliver more efficient products for our customers. The results of this advanced research will provide significant benefits across a broad range of products."