E-fuels for climate-friendly data centres: Rolls-Royce and INERATEC launch partnership

The technology group Rolls-Royce and INERATEC, a leading manufacturer of Power-to-X plants and climate-neutral e-fuels, have formed a strategic partnership to decarbonise backup power for data centres.

Their goal is to replace fossil diesel in emergency power systems with synthetic fuels produced from renewable hydrogen and CO2.

The collaboration opens up a new and largely overlooked case of using e-fuels in the digital age, powering critical infrastructure in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Data centres are among the fastest-growing energy consumers, primarily due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence. At the same time, these data centres  - some of which form part of critical infrastructure - must be protected against power outages.

Rolls-Royce and INERATEC have entered into a strategic partnership. © INERATEC

This is precisely where the partnership between Rolls-Royce Power Systems and INERATEC comes in. The companies intend to use INERATEC's synthetic e-diesel, which is produced using green hydrogen and CO2, as an alternative to fossil diesel for generators. Initially, the focus will be on German data centres.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems plans to support the use of INERATEC's sustainable fuels in its emergency power systems for data centres. The result is a reliable, cost-efficient, CO2-neutral solution to one of the challenges facing digital infrastructure.

Tobias Ostermaier, President of the Stationary Power Solutions business unit at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “mtu emergency generators from Rolls-Royce are already approved for operation with sustainable fuels. Customers in the critical infrastructure sector, such as data centres, who are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint, will soon be able to use e-fuels. We are committed to the use of e-fuels in data centres together with INERATEC."

Maximilian Backhaus, Chief Commercial Officer at INERATEC, added: “The secure energy supply for AI-powered data centres is one of the defining challenges of our time. Our e-fuels offer a climate-neutral solution that is scalable, dependable and ready for immediate deployment. Together with Rolls-Royce, we’re bringing this solution to the places where it’s needed most, starting now.”

The collaboration will begin with a focused market launch in Germany. Short delivery routes from INERATEC’s ERA ONE production facility in Frankfurt will enable rapid rollout. INERATEC’s e-fuels are produced using renewable electricity and captured CO2 and comply with internationally recognised environmental standards such as ISCC. In the long term, the two partners aim to implement their cooperation internationally.

For more information, visit www.rolls-royce.com and www.ineratec.de/en.