Project description
The future of regional flight
Aviation’s carbon footprint is becoming harder to ignore, especially in Europe, where regional flights make up over 20 % of all departures. This makes short-haul travel the ideal place to start the push towards net-zero emissions by 2050. The EU-funded HERACLES project aims to design a new, ultra-efficient regional aeroplane that moves beyond a single-fix solution. By combining hybrid-electric power and high-performance batteries with engines that run on 100 % sustainable fuel, and pairing them with a total redesign of the aircraft’s body and propellers, the project aims to cut CO2 emissions by at least 30 %. By focusing on technology that can be approved for flight quickly, HERACLES is expected to have these cleaner aircraft in the air by 2035.
Objective
In a world where the consequences of the climate change are already observable, the reduction of the aviation’s ecological footprint is undoubtedly essential. With 22% of total commercial flight departures being operated by regional aircraft, the introduction of more innovative concepts is necessary to achieving the net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 defined by the European Green Deal.
In this context, HERACLES aims to define an ultra-efficient regional aircraft (UERA) concept, embedding innovative technologies, such as a hybrid electric propulsion system with high-performance batteries and optimized thermal engine (using 100% SAF), optimized propeller, advanced airframe and other enabling technologies for more electric aircraft. This concept targets a reduction of no less than 30% in CO2 emissions on typical regional routes (250NM or below), compared to a 2020 state-of-the-art aircraft.
The project will benefit of a portfolio of demonstrations in regional thrust, to integrate technologies at high level of maturation (TRL5/6 at the end of the program), to support entry into service in 2035. The certification aspects will also take a major role in HERACLES. The project will coordinate the EASA involvement in all projects of the consortia (HERACLES, REG-01, REG-02 and REG-03), to contribute to the rulemaking for hybrid aircraft and deliver a route to CRL6. Furthermore, HERACLES will support the flight test demonstrator (FTD) assessment led by the REG-03 project, by providing the architecture and configuration assessment of fully integrated design of the demonstrator and the flight physics studies. It will also support the wind tunnel tests performed in this project by providing the design of the propeller and nacelle concept to be tested. With these activities defined for the UERA concept and the FTD, HERACLES will accelerate the penetration of innovative technologies in the regional aircraft market, to significantly participate to the aviation decarbonization.
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
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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-2025-01
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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.
31712 BLAGNAC
France
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.