A pan-European project to demonstrate a hybrid-electric gas turbine for aviation will be led by Rolls-Royce Deutschland.
Part of the EU’s Clean Aviation programme, Elevated will seek to develop a hybrid-electric subsystem, embed it in a jet engine and test under realistic boundary conditions, with a goal of reducing emissions by 20%. According to Rolls, the project will help inform the development of its UltraFan 30 demonstrator as it moves towards Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6).
“By integrating and demonstrating an innovative hybrid-electric system under realistic conditions, we will generate data to validate our modelling and inform technology selection, product development, certification planning and industrialisation,” said Alan Newby, Research & Technology director at Rolls-Royce.
“Together with the turbomachinery work being advanced through the ongoing Unified project, it will help bring together the key technology paths needed to validate future UltraFan capability and support best-in-class performance in thrust, fuel burn, noise, emissions and durability.”
Alongside Rolls-Royce Deutschland, the Elevated consortium will include industry, academic and research partners from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the UK. These partners are said to bring capabilities across hybridisation, electrification, engine integration, electrical machines and drives, powerplant integration, high-voltage harnesses, aircraft integration, modelling and academic research.
Elevated is one of 19 projects announced under the Clean Aviation Call 4 programme, part of the EU’s wider Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU). CAJU is aiming to decarbonise aviation through cross-continental collaboration, while enhancing EU competitiveness. Other Clean Aviation Call 4 projects include solutions for hydrogen-powered and ultra-efficient regional aircraft architectures, with a total of €664m set to be invested across the 19 projects.
“Call 4 projects are key to boosting Europe’s competitiveness and industrial leadership in a demanding global market where maintaining a technological edge will be fundamental to future success,” said Axel Krein, CAJU executive director.
“They showcase the innovative power of European aviation and aeronautics, marking Clean Aviation’s move into its demonstration phase and bringing together the entire ecosystem behind a shared goal: the entry-into-service of new, highly efficient aircraft by 2035.”
