RFPs: Demonstration of a Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System for Regional Aircraft, Including Pylon and Nacelle Integration and Modification

Scope

• The configuration of the Ultra-Efficient Regional aircraft concept proposed in Clean Aviation is expected to remain tube and wing and should target an Entry into Service (EIS) from 2035. Such an aircraft concept should have a capacity of around 50-100 passengers (pax) with a design range up to 500 Nautical Miles (NM), operated on a typical mission of 250NM.
• This new generation aircraft concept is based on several advanced design features that affect most of the critical systems and major components, plus an innovative powerplant with hybrid-electric capability based on batteries.
• The present topic aims to develop and demonstrate the hybrid-electric propulsion system needed for in-flight demonstration, delivering a total power of about 2 to 3MW (per side), with an electrical propulsive power of up to 1MW (per side). The selection of the electrical power and hybridization ratio shall be compatible with the performance targets at aircraft level. Those systems are key enablers for the ultra-efficient regional aircraft concept.
• The project scope is therefore to design, demonstrate, and deliver the fully integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system needed for a full-scale in-fight demonstration, including:
  • The overall propulsive system architecture, capable of achieving the performance targets and based on a parallel-hybrid architecture compatible with an FTD platform with 2 wing-mounted engines.
  • A high-efficiency thermal engine, compatible with 100% SAF, and benefiting from the optimization enabled by the electrical hybridization.
  • An electric motor/generator, making use of electrical power delivered from a battery
  • An advanced propeller, and the associated mechanical systems to couple the thermal and electrical power to the propeller.
  • A nacelle integrating the hybrid powerplant and all nacelle related systems into aerodynamic lines, including optimized intakes and exhaust, and maximizing weight & drag reduction.
  • All associated systems/equipment located within the nacelle, including:
    • power conversion and distribution systems, considering High Voltage DC (HVDC) technology.
    • Compatiblility with the interfaces of electrical systems and battery storage system installed on the airframe for the FTD.
    • hybrid control and protection system including full thermal/electric power management,
    • thermal management for the entire propulsion system and its nacelle & pylon.
  • A pylon box, fairings, and mounting system hosting the novel hybrid propulsion system, and providing all needed mechanical and systems interfaces with the airframe and on-boardsystems of the FTD platform, ensuring optimized installation and integration features.

Funding Information

• The maximum EU contribution for the topic is EUR 70 million.
• The maximum EU contribution per project funded under this topic is EUR 70 million.
• Indicative project duration: Maximum 60 months.

Expected Outcomes

• Project results are expected to demonstrate a hybrid-electric propulsive system for the Ultra-Efficient Regional aircraft concept considered by Clean Aviation SRIA for Entry Into Service by 2035:
  • Encompassing the engine and the associated nacelle & pylon for a wing-mounted aircraft-integration compatible with a Clean Aviation Phase 2 hybrid-electric Flight-Test Demonstration, based on battery electrical energy storage.
  • TRL4 shall be justified at project start for the considered technologies, based on synergies with activities from CA Phase 1, or funded by national/regional or other European programmes.
  • TRL5 shall be achieved for the integrated hybrid-electric propulsive system by 2028, based on Ground Test Demonstrator (GTD) testing and relevant earlier sub-systems and component testing and demonstrations., All hardware and equipment for integration on-board of a Flight Test Demonstrator (FTD), with the associated qualifications for Flight-Test Readiness (FTR), shall be delivered to enable a first flight by end of 2029 within the topic HORIZON-JU-CLEANAVIATION-2025-03-REG-03: Flight Test Demonstration of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion for Regional aircraft.
  • TRL6 shall be achieved for the integrated hybrid-electric propulsive system at project completion, based on FTD testing data received from the topic HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION2025-03-REG-03: Flight Test Demonstration of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion for Regional aircraft.
  • The hybrid-electric propulsive system shall be compliant to CS-25 and CS-E certification requirements, achieving a Certification Readiness Level 5 (CRL5) for critical technologies based on the project GTD, with a route to CRL6 based on FTD by the end of CA programme. Acceptable deviations on the FTD demonstrator should be documented and justified.
• The project results are expected to directly contribute to the performance targets of the UltraEfficient Regional aircraft concept with EIS by 2035:
  • The hybrid-electric propulsive system shall enable a 30% CO2 emissions reduction at aircraft level, including at least 20% from the hybrid-electric propulsion (including weight and aerodynamic integration effects of the propulsive system), compared to 2020 SoA aircraft.
  • 100% SAF compatibility shall be achieved, enabling 86% net CO2 reduction when combined with the 30% CO2 emissions reduction at aircraft level.
  • The evaluation, monitoring and reporting of key parameters needed to assess non-CO2 effects and noise emissions, shall ensure compliance with foreseen regulations and standards for a 2035 EIS.
  • Adequate KPIs at integrated system & key techno levels shall be defined to support the effective achievement of the expected outcomes and shall be aligned with the performance targets

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities eligible to participate:
  • Entities eligible to participate Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
  • A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality .
• Entities eligible for funding :
  • To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
    • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
      • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
    • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
      • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
    • countries associated to Horizon Europe;
      • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

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