Avio Aero launches hybrid electric technology programme

Avio Aero, which has its headquarters in Rivalto di Torino, Italy, and is part of GE Aerospace, has launched a new technology demonstration programme designed to continue advancing development of hybrid electric propulsion technologies for commercial aviation and support efforts to make air transport more fuel efficient to reduce CO₂ emissions.

The ‘Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking’ of the European Commission has awarded about 34 million euros over four years to a consortium led by Avio Aero for the ‘Amber’ demonstrator. It is planned to mature, integrate and validate key technologies necessary for a megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

The Amber demonstrator will study the integration of hybrid electric components — including a motor/generator, power converters, and power transmission systems — with fuel cells for rig testing in the mid-2020s using Avio Aero’s ‘advanced catalyst turboprop engine’.

Giorgio Abrate, Avio Aero’s vice president of engineering, said: “We are proud to announce the launch of the AMBER hybrid-electric program, which aims to demonstrate the benefits of an innovative aircraft propulsion system coupling a turbine engine with a fuel cell-powered electric motor.

“We are looking to design, develop, and test breakthrough technologies to shape the future of more sustainable flight in Europe and we appreciate the collaboration with Clean Aviation to make this demonstrator possible. The recognition and awarding of our Amber proposal by Clean Aviation confirms its strategic and technological value to support European Union ambitions to reach ‘net zero’ CO₂ emissions from flight by 2050.”

Axel Krein, Clean Aviation’s executive director, added: “For the transformation towards climate neutral we must do more with less energy, and aviation is no exception. Clean Aviation’s primary ambition is to drive a step-change in aircraft performance by radically boosting efficiency in aircraft and fleet performance. For regional aircraft, our goal is an improvement of at least 50% [in the 2030s] compared to a typical flight today. The Amber project will play a key role in helping us to deliver this target.”

Amber is one of several Clean Aviation projects associated with Avio Aero to be recently awarded funding. The Hydea project, also coordinated by Avio Aero, will develop a hydrogen combustion engine for flight tests in collaboration with Safran Aircraft Engines, Airbus, and more European companies, as well as universities and research centres.

Meanwhile, the Ofelia Project being coordinated coordinated by Safran Aircraft Engines, aims to demonstrate open fan architecture in flight tests later this decade in collaboration with Airbus.