Project description
Enabling technologies for hybrid-electric regional aircraft
Aviation needs to transition towards hybrid-electric regional aircraft to meet European Green Deal targets. This step change can only be accomplished with power distribution networks that can safely handle the high power and high voltage levels, ultimately up to several MW. The EU-funded HECATE project will address the challenges of system weight and power density, high voltage issues with lightning arcs and electromagnetic interference, as well as the issue of optimised thermal management. Additionally, it will use digital twins for the digitalisation of the design process. The project will deliver a set of enabling technologies and provide a scalability roadmap towards CAJU Phase 2 flight demonstration and exploitation in a 2035-built hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
Objective
Aviation needs to meet the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal. This means a step change is needed towards hybrid electric regional aircraft to significantly reduce the fuel burn. This can only be accomplished with power distribution networks that can safely handle the high power and high voltage levels, ultimately up to several Megawatt. The HECATE project will address the associated challenges of system weight and power density, high voltage challenges with lightning, arcing and electromagnetic interference as well as optimized thermal management, in addition to digitizing the design process with digital twins. This will lead to transformative technology bricks, which are holistically optimized at system integration architecture level. The HECATE project will demonstrate a >500 kW architecture in a copper bird at TRL5. This will provide a clearer understanding of high voltage challenges and how to mitigate them, with a scalability roadmap towards CAJU Phase 2 flight demonstration and exploitation in a 2035 new built Hybrid Electric Regional aircraft. Also, environmental impact and LCA will be assessed. For optimal alignment and ensuring certifiability, HECATE will establish relationships with other Clean Aviation projects (e.g. HER-01 for MW propulsion, HER-02 for thermal, TRA-01 for architecture, TRA-02 for certification) and authorities and standards groups (e.g. EASA, EUROCAE).
As a set of key enabling technologies that are well integrated, HECATE will contribute to the Clean Aviation SRIA and its expected impacts, and fully fulfill the call's expected outcomes. The 37-member consortium mobilizes key EU based industries throughout the entire existing supply chain: from aircraft OEMs to system integrators, to system and subsystems suppliers, 5 of which are SMEs. 17 RTOs, complement and reinforce the industries, which also ensures knowledge gained is embedded in future research and education programs. HECATE requests 34 210 348€ of grant.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicselectromagnetism
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power distribution
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation ActionsCoordinator
T23 Cork
Ireland
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Participants (33)
31702 Blagnac
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00195 Roma
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28906 Getafe (Madrid)
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31400 Toulouse
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
86720 Nordlingen
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75015 Paris
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78370 Plaisir
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00185 ROMA
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1059 CM Amsterdam
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3351 NL PAPENDRECHT
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28040 Madrid
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28903 Getafe (Madrid)
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9220 Aalborg
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50-370 Wroclaw
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18071 Granada
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1990 392 LISBOA
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78400 Chatou
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
33700 Merignac
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81031 Aversa Ce
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
29590 Malaga
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88662 Ueberlingen
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1210 Wien
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84084 Fisciano Sa
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95447 Bayreuth
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28820 Coslada Madrid
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
20009 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN (GIPUZKOA)
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80686 Munchen
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81100 Caserta
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98693 Ilmenau
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60730 Sainte Genevieve
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
37510 Loches
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90 924 Lodz
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80122 NAPOLI
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Partners (3)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
B90 4SS SOLIHULL WEST MIDLANDS
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
M15 6JJ MANCHESTER
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
NG7 2RD Nottingham
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