Rolls-Royce Investing £80m In Energy Storage Systems

• by Alex Lockey
• June 16, 2021
• 2 min read

© Credit to Vertical Aerospace

Rolls-Royce is putting £80m into the development of energy storage systems capable of providing up to 100 miles on a single charge.

• Investment is expected to generate hundreds of jobs by 2030 and make Rolls-Royce a leading name in aviation systems.
• ESS products made by Rolls-Royce will power eVTOL and standard commuter aircraft.
• Rolls-Royce are well-versed in designing these systems, having worked on 10 different aerospace battery systems.

Rolls-Royce are what you might call a jack of all trades company. They’re known for high-end automobiles with a classic British touch, but they’re also a key component in the developing electric aviation field.

Today, the British dynasty has announced an £80m investment into the development of energy storage systems (ESS) — systems that will enable aircraft to travel over 100 miles at a time.

Development in these systems is set to generate around 300 hundred jobs by 2030.

Furthermore, investment in ESS would position Rolls-Royce as one of the leading suppliers in this type of tech. We can see many electric aviation startups seeking the help of RR to get their ideas off the ground.

ESS products made can be applied to electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, benefitting a range of sustainable aircraft. In other words, these systems can power electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and standard commuter planes.

We’ve covered eVTOl aircraft a lot lately, Virgin Atlantic is looking to introduce their own fleet, and Archer Aviation just unveiled a marvellous 12-rotor air taxi known as ‘Maker.’

“This [ESS systems] will ensure that we can offer our customers a complete electric propulsion system for their platform, whether that is an eVTOL or a commuter aircraft. It will enable us to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for all-electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems, which is incredibly exciting as these new markets develop and expand.”
— Rob Watson, director of electrical, Rolls-Royce

So far, Rolls-Royce has designed 10 unique battery systems, and that’s without mentioning the countless aircraft they’ve developed/tested.

Rolls-Royce continues to excel in the electric aviation space. What do you think of their investment plans?

Alex Lockey

Alex likes aircraft a lot. Probably too much. After studying for his degree in Aeronautical Engineering, he started working in people services related to engineering and education. Yet, the allure of the skies keeps pulling him back in. Alex loves to focus on the emerging world of electrified flight, drone tech and the wider EV tech landscape. When he’s not penning a few pieces for E4TP, Alex mostly spends his time either with his young family or in his businesses. One day, he hopes to own his very own aircraft, preferably an electric one.

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