Project description
Hydrogen-electric propulsion targets climate-neutral aviation
Aviation is a major contributor to global emissions, with current propulsion systems relying on fossil fuels that produce significant CO2 and NOx emissions. Reducing the climate impact of aviation is critical, especially as demand for air travel continues to grow. Conventional technologies cannot meet the European Green Deal’s target of climate-neutral aviation by 2050. A disruptive, zero-emission solution is needed to achieve this goal. With this in mind, the EU-funded HEROPS project aims to address this challenge by developing MTU’s Flying Fuel Cell (FFC) propulsion system. Using hydrogen-electric propulsion, HEROPS will power aircraft with fuel cells and liquid hydrogen, targeting commercial readiness by 2035, with significant reductions in aviation’s environmental footprint.
Objective
HEROPS aims to introduce climate-neutral propulsion into regional aircraft by developing MTU’s Flying Fuel Cell (FFC) propulsion system concept for entry into service in 2035. This disruptive hydrogen-electric propulsion system uses fuel cells as sole power source and a liquid hydrogen fuel system, without the need for high-power batteries. Integration of both the fuel cell system and the electric propulsion unit into a compact engine nacelle will ensure an efficient system at high power-to-weight ratio.
HEROPS targets to demonstrate a 1,2 MW propulsion system based on a scalable 600 kW core module at TRL4. The core module and all further sub-systems will be validated up to TRL5. Complemented by simulation and electrical network testing of the overall modularised system, scalability to the 2 – 4 MW power level will be confirmed. The certification programme will build upon on-going certification activities, enabling timely maturation of the aviation-native HEROPS technology against relevant certification requirements.
The two-phase approach of the overall programme - including extensive development, test and validation cycles at each stage - is expected to advance the FFC concept to TRL6 for integration and demonstration on a regional aircraft by 2028. It will pave the way for commercial prototyping and entry-into-service by 2035, delivering a key propulsion technology to reach the European Green Deal’s objective of climate-neutral aviation by 2050 with 100% prevention of CO2 and NOx emissions and up to 80% reduction of the climate impact from contrails and contrail cirrus.
The HEROPS project will meet this challenge with a European consortium of aircraft propulsion system integrators, electrical system experts, key tier 1 suppliers and leading researchers in stack technology, mechanics and propulsion, leveraging relevant and effective synergies between European and national programmes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering aircraft
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence expert systems
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.7 - Clean, Safe and Accessible Transport and Mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2023-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80995 Muenchen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.