Rolls-Royce Reports 16% Revenue Growth in 2023

EUROPE REPORT 
Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

Rolls Royce Power Systems Business Unit, based in Friedrichshafen, Germany, reported sales of EUR 4.56 billion in fiscal 2023, a 16% increase over 2022. Operating profit hit 10.2%, up from 8.4% in 2022.

The operating profit increase is due to the investments in transformation and process optimization, implementation of a new commercial policy, better cost, and stock management.

Strong demand for standby power generation especially for data centers, implementation of the “From bridge to the propeller” strategy for large yachts, and development of an energy storage systems in Europe integrating renewable energies into the Duch public grid have contributed significantly to the revenue growth.

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Kubota Unveils First Fuel Cell Tractor

JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

On March 28, Kubota unveiled the first prototype of a fuel cell-powered tractor. Although no release date has been set, the company will consider installing fuel cells in unmanned, automated tractors. Kubota is also developing battery-powered agricultural equipment, but the company believes that hydrogen-powered fuel cells will be effective for medium-large sized agricultural equipment.

Kubota is rushing to commercialize fuel cells because it believes demand will grow in developed countries such as Japan, Europe and the United States as a result of the trend toward decarbonization. The prototype machine has about 60 horsepower and has three hydrogen tanks installed above the cabin, which are used in Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell car. It generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen to power the engine. In the experiment, a tractor was equipped with a plowing unit to till the soil.

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