Rolls-Royce Introduces New MTU Gas Engine Series 500 for Power Generation

Rolls-Royce is launching a new MTU Series 500 for power generation. With a power range of 250 to 550 kilowatts and peak efficiencies of up to 42.6 percent, the gas gensets offer a climate-friendly and economical solution for the industrial and utility sector in addition to other applications. Gas gensets and cogeneration plants can be ordered on the basis of 6-cylinder in-line engines as well as 8 and 12-cylinder V-engines for the 50 Hz market. In cogeneration, when electricity and heat are generated, efficiencies of around 90 percent can be achieved. In the 60 Hz market, the units will be introduced from mid 2021. "With the 500 series, we are offering our customers state-of-the-art products with which they are equipped for the future in terms of efficiency and environmental friendliness," explains Andreas Görtz, Vice President Power Generation at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “With efficiencies of up to 42.6 percent, low life-cycle costs and high availability, plant operators benefit from low fuel consumption and thus high yields”, says Görtz. The products will initially be offered for operation with natural gas, and from mid 2021 also for biogas. In addition, the 500 series is H2-ready, which means that the engines can be converted to hydrogen operation at a later date.  

Optimally controlled by MTU Module Control System
All gensets are equipped as standard with the flexible MTU Module Control System (MMC), a control system that can be customized to perform all important functions required for continuous monitoring and control of a complete customer solution. The MMC is located in a separate panel next to the genset. This allows the gensets to be integrated into complex systems such as microgrids and provides access to the global MTU service network.

Ideal component for microgrids
With their MMC control system, the 500 series gensets are ideally suited for use in a wide range of applications, such as in combined heat and power plants and also in complex industrial applications. Rolls-Royce offers its customers a comprehensive portfolio of energy systems that contribute to decarbonization - from simple storage solutions to complex microgrids that intelligently combine battery storage with renewable energies and diesel or gas gensets. A microgrid solution that combines heat and power from a gas genset such as the new MTU Series 500 with photovoltaics and a battery storage system can cut energy costs by over 40 percent compared to a conventional system, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Series 500 replaces Series 400 with more power and efficiency
The new genset series replaces the previous MTU Series 400 products and, with the new gensets based on the Series 500, increases efficiency by about three percent and available power by over 30 percent. Spare parts and service will be maintained for Series 400 customers in accordance with contractually agreed terms. Series 400 products can be ordered until mid 2021 and series production will end in late 2021.