Imagine a plane that uses a mix of a traditional engine and a hydrogen-powered electric motor, similar to how a hybrid car works. Instead of relying only on fuel, it uses fuel cells to generate electricity to help push the plane forward. This setup helps the aircraft fly cleaner and use much less fuel during its trip.
Regional aviation lacks a viable path to decarbonize quickly because full battery or hydrogen power is not yet mature for 100-seat aircraft. There is a critical need for an intermediate hybrid solution to meet 2035 environmental goals.
A design and validation plan for a >2MW parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system, including CDRs for thermal management, fuel cells, and gearboxes.
If you are a regional aircraft manufacturer dealing with strict carbon emission targets — this project developed a parallel hybrid-electric architecture that can reduce mission fuel burn by at least 30% compared to 2020 state-of-the-art aircraft.
If you are an engine supplier dealing with the transition to zero-emission flight — this project developed a megawatt-class propulsion system ( > 2MW) integrating fuel cells and electrical drives for regional flights.
If you are a hydrogen provider dealing with the need for high-power aviation applications — this project developed the integration of liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel cells into a flight-representative propulsion system.
Based on available project data, there is no specific information regarding the unit cost or price of the propulsion system.
The project focuses on a megawatt-class system (> 2MW) designed for regional aircraft serving distances of 500 to 1000 km with capacities up to 100 seats.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project is part of the Avio Aero and GE Aerospace technology portfolio.
The project targets an Entry into Service (EIS) by 2035.
It uses a parallel hybrid configuration that integrates a motor/generator and power converters with Avio Aero’s Catalyst turboprop engine.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 13 industrial partners representing 59% of the 22 total members. Led by GE AVIO SRL, the group includes 4 SMEs and 9 research/university entities across 6 countries (CZ, DE, IT, PL, TR, UK), indicating a strong commercial push to move the technology from the lab to a product-representative state.
Contact GE AVIO SRL in Italy for partnership opportunities regarding the Catalyst engine hybrid integration.
Contact SciTransfer to identify potential sub-suppliers for the thermal management or power distribution modules of the AMBER system.
