First gas turbine engine is installed in Royal Navy's new carrier

Queen Elizabeth class ships will receive Rolls-Royce's MT30 turbines

Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the installation of the first MT30 gas turbine into the new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard in Scotland.

Two MT30s will be installed in each ship and will provide two thirds of the 109 megawatts needed to power the 65,000 tonne ships – enough energy to power a town the size of Swindon.

The MT30, at 36 megawatts (around 50,000 horsepower), is the world’s most powerful marine gas turbine. 

The MT30s are installed as part of a Gas Turbine Alternator (GTA) which also includes an alternator and gas turbine enclosure, weighing a total of 120 tonnes.

Tony Wood, Rolls-Royce, President - Marine said: “The successful installation of the first MT30 marks a significant milestone in the Queen Elizabeth class programme. Rolls-Royce has a long and proud history of delivering excellent marine gas turbine technology to the Royal Navy. We are extremely pleased to be part of this programme working alongside our many partners in delivering sophisticated power and propulsion systems for these magnificent ships.”

MT30 gas turbine facts:

• The MT30 is derived from the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 aero engine which powers the Boeing 777 aircraft, with around 80 per cent of the parts being the same.
• The MT30 currently powers the US Navy’s Freedom Class variant of the Littoral Combat Ship, will power their new DDG-1000 destroyers and was recently selected for the Republic of Korea Navy’s new FFXII frigate.
• Modular production of the MT30 begins on the same production line as the Rolls-Royce Trent aero engines in Derby, before the modules are assembled into the marine configuration, and put through a rigorous test and certification programme at the Rolls-Royce facility in Bristol.
• The power generated will meet the aircraft carrier’s demand for energy, which includes the propulsion motors, weapons and navigation systems as well as the entire low voltage requirements for lighting and power sockets.
• The four GTA packages (two per ship) are assembled by Cullums Detuners of Derbyshire. Due to the size, the alternator and gas turbine enclosure are shipped to Rosyth separately.