The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. Ninety percent of the SMR – measuring about 16 metres by 4 metres – will be built in factory conditions, limiting activity on-site primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.
“The heat and electricity from a Rolls-Royce SMR power station is well suited to industrial processes, such as hydrogen production and synthetic fuel synthesis, that require consistent energy inputs,” Equilibrion said.
Eq.flight is Equilibrion’s proprietary modular system for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at commercial scale and with lower lifecycle emissions compared with other technologies. Eq.flight will produce e-SAF with electricity and heat – also known as power-to-liquids (PtL) SAF – which will contribute to the UK’s sustainable aviation fuel mandate targets. The enhanced efficiency of the system will produce more sustainable aviation fuel using less energy and be a key enabler to securing domestic e-SAF production and the associated jobs and economic growth.
Supported by a Department for Transport grant under the Advanced Fuels Fund, Equilibrion and its partners are aiming to deliver a world-leading UK-based demonstration of Eq.flight by 2030 to confirm both the technical viability and economic case of the system.
The collaboration will explore how Equilibrion’s Eq.flight sustainable aviation fuel production system can be powered by the Rolls-Royce SMR. Together, the technologies have the potential to produce over 160 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel per year per Rolls-Royce SMR, meeting around one-third of the UK’s 2040 PtL target, according to Equilibrion. Under the agreement, the partners will collaborate to develop a deeper understanding of the technical and economic case for a global sustainable aviation fuel production solution, optimised with nuclear energy.
Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet current sustainable aviation fuel supply meets less than 1% of global demand. With UK targets for 22% of aviation fuel to be sustainable aviation fuel by 2040, there is a growing demand for meaningful capacity increase. This requires large volumes of low-carbon energy, a need that nuclear technology is uniquely positioned to meet.
“Aviation will only meet its climate commitments if SAF becomes available in large, dependable volumes,” said Caroline Longman, director at Equilibrion. “Nuclear-derived fuel production offers the reliability, scalability and low carbon intensity needed to deliver that future. Delivering nuclear-enabled SAF also creates long-term, high-quality employment – each Eq.flight facility has the potential to generate around 10,000 skilled local jobs over its lifetime.”
Alan Woods, director of strategy and business development for Rolls-Royce SMR, added: “Our SMR technology is designed to provide clean, affordable and dependable low carbon energy, exactly the qualities required to unlock large-scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel production. The technical and economic assessment completed with Equilibrion will enable them to demonstrate how nuclear can power one of the most ambitious decarbonisation challenges in aviation.”
Feasibility study
The announcement of the collaboration between Equilibrion and Rolls-Royce SMR came as a feasibility study was completed into the large-scale production of nuclear-derived sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen in southwest England. Conducted by Bristol Airport and Equilibrion – with support from Q8Aviation and Exolum – the study demonstrates how the region could meet Bristol Airport’s growing demand for sustainable fuels for both flight and ground operations.
The study found that small modular reactors (SMRs) could be based in the southwest and used to generate both sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen to support the airport’s transition to lower emissions from its operations.
The development of this technology by Equilibrion is under project Eq.flight, which has also been awarded funding from the UK Department for Transport. Equilibrion said Eq.flight provides a long-term, low-carbon solution for aviation, with the potential to reduce emissions from Bristol Airport’s flights by 29% in 2035.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel will play a critical role in decarbonising aviation globally, but we need to ensure that there is a reliable, affordable supply,” said Hannah Pollard, Head of Sustainability for Bristol Airport. “Equilibrion’s ground-breaking report shows the huge potential that nuclear-derived SAF offers. With our region’s nuclear pedigree and available sites, the southwest is well-positioned to host SMRs and lead the development of this exciting technology.”
Dr Phil Rogers, Director at Equilibrion, added: “We are delighted to have worked with Bristol Airport … to support its sustainable growth and emissions reduction plans. Eq.flight provides a unique opportunity to produce low-carbon fuels close to where they are used, creating jobs, investment, and local value. Our mission to decarbonise aviation using nuclear energy is advancing rapidly, and completion of this project is a major milestone.”
