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CORDIS

Consortium for the AdVent of aero-Engine Demonstration and aircraft Integration Strategy with Hydrogen

Project description

New technologies for carbon neutrality in aviation industry

The goal to minimise the impact of air travel on the environment is key to achieving carbon neutrality in the aviation industry. Along these lines, the EU-funded CAVENDISH project will develop breakthrough technologies related to direct combustion systems for liquid hydrogen. Specifically, it will prototype and integrate these technologies onto a modern donor aeroengine for ground testing, starting in late 2024. This will lead to the development of commercial hydrogen-fuelled aircraft by 2035. The project will also explore alternative technologies such as a dual fuel combustor system and a cryo-compressed tank system. CAVENDISH will bring together expertise-leading organisations and build on technology programmes from France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Objective

In line with the European Green Deal target of reaching carbon neutrality in the aviation industry by 2050, breakthrough technologies related to direct (100% hydrogen) combustion systems will be researched, prototyped and integrated onto a modern donor aeroengine for ground testing (starting in late 2024) in Project CAVENDISH. This aeroengine test on liquid hydrogen will be a first of a kind in Europe and the cornerstone to further in-flight demonstration, eventually leading to product development aimed at meeting Europe’s and the industry’s ambition for the entry in service (EIS) of commercial, mass-transport, hydrogen-fuelled aircraft in 2035.
CAVENDISH’s second objective will be to work on system and powerplant aircraft integration with several established airframers and a supplemental type certificate organisation to define certification pathways and formulate a route to permit to fly. This activity will directly benefit the flight test of the donor engine scheduled for the next phase of the Clean Aviation programme.
CAVENDISH will also explore alternative enabling technologies in the form of a dual fuel combustor system (capable of operating on 100% hydrogen and 100% SAF) and in the form of a cryo-compressed tank system. Both these technologies will offer flexibility and could ease the introduction of hydrogen in aviation.
CAVENDISH brings together expertise-leading European organizations in aeronautics, power and propulsion, combustion, fuel and controls systems and aircraft. It builds on multiple national technology programmes heralding from the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands, and is in effect the marriage and acceleration of these technology pathways into an early demonstration and a first minimum viable product (MVP) of a liquid hydrogen combusting aeroengine. The project is also connected to activities in other Clean Aviation calls, on SMR and Certification activities specifically, notably project proposals HEAVEN and CONCERTO.

Coordinator

ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
Net EU contribution
€ 10 881 605,00
Address
Eschenweg 11
15827 Blankenfelde-Mahlow
Germany

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Region
Brandenburg Brandenburg Teltow-Fläming
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 15 545 150,00

Participants (14)

Partners (5)