How Rolls-Royce Delivers EPD-Backed Power for Data Centres

Rolls-Royce has delivered mtu emergency power generators with verified environmental product declarations to a European data centre operator for the first time, marking a milestone in sustainability transparency for critical digital infrastructure.

The delivery positions Rolls-Royce as one of the first engine manufacturers to verify and publish the environmental footprint of emergency power generators. 

For data centre operators facing rising scrutiny over energy use and emissions, the move provides independently verified data covering the full life cycle of backup power systems.

Developed in collaboration with sustainability specialist Sphera, the environmental product declarations are externally verified and published through the international EPD System, Environdec. 

They document the environmental impact of the mtu 16V 4000 DS2500 and mtu 10V 1600 systems across all stages, from raw material extraction and production through operation and end-of-life recycling.

Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division, says: “With these environmental product declarations, we set a new industry standard for environmental transparency in the field of energy systems.

“This is our response to growing demand from our customers and we are actively supporting them in reducing their carbon footprint.”

Transparency for critical digital infrastructure

For data centres, emergency power systems are essential to maintaining uptime and resilience.

However, they are also under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable progress on sustainability and compliance. 

The introduction of verified environmental product declarations allows operators to assess the true environmental impact of backup power assets using standardised and globally recognised metrics.

The EPDs provide detailed data on resource consumption, emissions, waste generation and recyclability.

They describe all phases of the product life cycle, including supply chains, transport, assembly, operation, maintenance and decommissioning. The declarations are based on real production and operating data from Rolls-Royce manufacturing facilities and suppliers, supplemented by life cycle assessment data from Sphera.

This level of disclosure supports data centre operators when reporting against environmental targets, responding to regulatory requirements or engaging with customers demanding greater transparency across digital infrastructure supply chains.

Sustainable fuels and lower emissions

Alongside transparency, Rolls-Royce is positioning its mtu emergency power generators as a lower-emission option for data centres transitioning away from fossil fuels. 

The generators are already approved for operation with sustainable fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil and e-fuels.

HVO can be used as a full replacement for fossil diesel without any technical modifications, allowing operators to reduce carbon emissions without changing existing infrastructure. 

When combined with sustainable fuels, modern mtu exhaust gas aftertreatment systems significantly reduce pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

In practical terms, this means CO₂, NOx and particulate emissions can be reduced by more than 90% compared with conventional diesel operation, supporting data centre decarbonisation strategies while maintaining the reliability required for mission-critical environments.

Operational efficiency for data centres

Rolls-Royce has also highlighted operational benefits that align with data centre sustainability goals. 

Its certified service offering enables longer maintenance intervals for emergency power systems. Instead of monthly checks, operators only need to test their generators every quarter.

For large data centre campuses operating multiple backup systems, reduced testing frequency can lead to lower fuel consumption, fewer emissions and reduced operating costs.

This approach supports both environmental objectives and operational efficiency without compromising system readiness.

EPDs aligned with global standards

The EPD International System is an independent and globally recognised organisation based on ISO 14025 and EN 50693 standards. 

By registering its declarations within this framework, Rolls-Royce is aligning its data centre power solutions with internationally accepted methodologies for environmental assessment.

Tobias says: “Our EPDs create transparency for customers, authorities and partners – and prove that sustainability is measurable and verifiable.”

As data centres continue to expand to meet demand for cloud, AI and digital services, the ability to verify and communicate the environmental impact of critical infrastructure components is becoming increasingly important.

Rolls-Royce’s EPD-backed mtu emergency power generators represent a step towards more accountable and sustainable data centre operations.