Challenges presented by aircraft electric propulsion requires the development of new airborne technologies that enable expanding the electrification technology trend already impacting other areas, like ground transportation or the autonomous generation/usage of electricity from renewables, to efficient and economical air transportation. Those intended technologies must be capable of producing a highly efficient, lightweight, and compact aircraft electrical system that can supply the electric power for propulsion as well as for other uses while keeping electromagnetic emissions under safe limits compatible with airborne equipment operation and human safety. In addition, they shall control heat up of the system by enhanced thermal dissipation through a proper thermal management system. With this aim, EASIER will bring together a multidisciplinary team in order to achieve the following objectives: 1. Investigating EMI filtering solutions with less volume and weight. 2. Investigating EWIS technologies with less radiated EMI, less volume and lower weight. 3. Improved heat transfer from electrical systems to the aircraft exterior. 4. Optimization of the integration of electrical systems with significant mutual impact. 5. Engagement with airframers and regulatory agencies. 6. System trade-off analysis and technology identification. 7. Roadmapping of hybrid/electric aircraft key enabling technologies in terms of EMI and thermal management. To achieve the objectives a strong partnership is established among all members of the EASIER consortium from EU and US who will collaborate following a coordinated plan, with the Industrial Advisory Board and other consortium(s) executing areas 1-3 from the call.

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.

The SWITCH project is an ambitious initiative aimed at addressing the challenge of achieving climate-neutral short- to medium-range air transport by developing a revolutionary sustainable gas turbine propulsion system. This project is tightly aligned with the strategic goals of the Clean Aviation program, which seeks to foster innovation and sustainability in the aviation sector. The primary objectives of the SWITCH project are improving fuel burn and energy consumption by 20% and achieving a 50% reduction in the climate impact of both NOx emissions and contrails, compared to a state-of-the-art engine, hereby significantly reducing the three major warming effects of aviation on the climate — CO2, NOx, and contrails. This 20% reduction in fuel burn meets the foreseen contribution from propulsion system side to the -30% goal on aircraft level as laid out in the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). To achieve these objectives, the project develops the Dual-spool-hybridized heat recovering Second-Gen Geared Turbofan, which features a dual-spool hybrid-electric architecture, combining two Collins Aerospace megawatt-class electric motor generators within a Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine, introduces Waste Heat Recovery to further improve thermal efficiency beyond the 2nd Gen GTF, and a low-emissions combustor to reduce NOx and nvPM emissions. The development of lightweight multifunctional structures and an optimized nacelle and thrust reverser support the integration of novel technologies into the powerplant. Local air quality and noise levels around airports are improved through electric taxiing. The propulsion system will be compatible with 100% drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and its principle is suitable for powerplants that burn hydrogen. It addresses all climate-relevant market segments: short-, medium-, and long-range. The SWITCH project is conducted by a global consortium, involving aircraft, engine and system OEMs, key tier I suppliers and leading research institutes in combustion and propulsion. This unprecedented collaborative effort will leverage synergies between European and national programs, ensuring that the project is well-placed within the context of the Clean Aviation initiative. In 2026, SWITCH matures the dual-spool hybridized turbofan to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 through ground demonstration of the full propulsion system, and the waste heat recovery concept to TRL 4 through validation of its key enabling technologies. In Phase 2 of Clean Aviation, the dual-spool hybrid-electric configuration is flight tested and matured to TRL 6 by 2030, and Waste Heat Recovery System demonstrated to achieve TRL 5 by 2030. Results from SWITCH will reinforce confidence in the climate reduction potential of the Dual-Spool- Hybridized heat recovering Second-Gen Geared Turbofan and form the technological foundation to enable the innovation to enter the market by 2035. This concept will significantly reduce aviation's climate impact, contributing towards the European Green Deal's goal of climate neutrality by 2050. Overall, the SWITCH project is ready to make a substantial contribution to sustainable aviation, driving innovation, and reducing the environmental impact of air travel.

More Electric and Connected Aircraft (MECA) is one of the most promising enablers to reach Flightpath 2050. But MECA asks for more electrical systems, which exchange more data which can be safety critical, and consume more electrical power leading to higher thermal dissipation. This leads to complexity, weight penalty and increased exposure to intended (cybersecurity) and unintended (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility) interference. Overcoming these barriers requires an interdisciplinary cooperation and, in this context, the ADENEAS project emerged, aiming at paving the way for a safe, light, self-configuring, autonomous and modular power and data distribution network that is scalable to all aircraft sizes. To achieve this long-term objective, ADENEAS will define new architecture concepts, develop advanced Artificial Intelligence-based design tools, enabling technologies for intra-aircraft data communication and for power network and a cooling system. The project will also demonstrate the integration of the data and power network and cooling system, initiate standardisation activities and ensure commercial viability. To achieve these objectives, ADENEAS will start from solid foundation of partner’s background, previous and ongoing R&D activities and will implement a stepwise approach from the definition of requirements and reference case (for small, medium and large aircraft) up to the assessment and evaluation of the developed, tested and demonstrated technologies. This includes strong involvement of an Industrial Advisory Board as well as standardisation perspective. The ADENEAS future proof power and data network, scalable to all aircraft size, will support the Flightpath 2050 objective by allowing to save 0.7% block fuel burn and >156,000 kg of CO2 emitted per aircraft per year and secondary by optimizing maintenance and providing novel technologies to be deployed for increased passenger experience.