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Sustainable Water-Injecting Turbofan Comprising Hybrid-electrics

PROJECTS
Funding
European
European Union
Duration
-
Status
Ongoing
Geo-spatial type
Infrastructure Node
Total project cost
€67 885 850
EU Contribution
€48 501 872
Project website
Project Acronym
SWITCH
STRIA Roadmaps
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Transport mode
Airborne icon
Transport policies
Decarbonisation
Transport sectors
Passenger transport

Overview

Call for proposal
HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2022-01
Link to CORDIS
Objectives

SWITCH aims to answer the challenge of climate-neutral short-medium range air transport by developing a revolutionary sustainable gas turbine propulsion system – the hybrid Water-Enhanced Turbofan (hybrid WET). It boosts WET technology with hybridization (Electrical Aircraft Propulsion – EAP) to improve energy efficiency by 25% and reduce climate impact by 75% (using net zero-CO2 sustainable aviation fuel, 50% with conventional Jet-A kerosene) compared to a state-of-the-art engine. It is the only concept to significantly reduce all three major warming effects on our climate: CO2 through unmatched efficiency, NOx through water injection in the combustor, and contrails through particle removal and water recovery. Local air quality and noise levels around airports are improved through electric taxiing. The hybrid WET is fully compatible with drop-in SAF and could also be adapted to burn hydrogen. It addresses all climate-notable market segments: Short-, medium- and long-range.

Methodology

The SWITCH project will meet this challenge with a global consortium, through an unprecedented programmatic effort between airframer, engine and system OEMs, key tier 1 suppliers and leading researchers in combustion and propulsion, leveraging relevant and effective synergies between European and national programs.

SWITCH will mature the hybrid WET’s two key innovation concepts by 2025: The WET engine to technology readiness level (TRL) 4 through validation of its key enabling technologies and the EAP system to TRL 5 through flight-ready engine ground demonstration of the full propulsion system.
Results from SWITCH will reinforce confidence in the climate reduction potential of the hybrid WET propulsion system and form the technological foundation to achieve TRL 6 by 2030. This will enable the innovation to enter into the market by 2035 on a new short-medium range aircraft to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact towards the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050.

Funding

Specific funding programme
HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
HORIZON.2.5.7 - Clean, Safe and Accessible Transport and Mobility
Other Programme
HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2022-01-SMR-01 Ultra Efficient Propulsion Systems for Short and Short-Medium Range Aircraft
Funding Source
Horizon Europe

Partners

Lead Organisation
Organisation
MTU AERO ENGINES AG
Address
DACHAUER STRASSE 665, 80995 MUNCHEN, Germany
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€29 138 288
Partner Organisations
Organisation
AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
Address
ROUTE DE BAYONNE 316, 31060 TOULOUSE, France
EU Contribution
€5 212 170
Organisation
ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS
Address
KEDEA BUILDING, TRITIS SEPTEMVRIOU, ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, 546 36 THESSALONIKI, Greece
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€545 625
EU Contribution
€950 799
Organisation
DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV
Address
LINDER HOHE, 51147 KOLN, Germany
EU Contribution
€1 449 924
Organisation
Fokker Elmo Bv
Address
Aviolandalaan 33, 4630 AB Hoogerheide, Netherlands
EU Contribution
€1 132 305
Organisation
GKN AEROSPACE SWEDEN AB
Address
46181 TROLLHAETTAN, Sweden
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€5 024 436
Organisation
UNIVERSITY OF STUTTGART
Address
KEPLERSTRASSE 7, 70174 STUTTGART, Germany
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€777 085
Organisation
COLLINS AEROSPACE IRELAND, LIMITED
Address
PENROSE QUAY PENROSE WHARF PENROSE BUSINESS CENTRE FOURTH FLOOR, Cork, T23, Ireland
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€3 771 285
Organisation
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB
Address
412 96 GOTEBORG, Sweden
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€499 956

Technologies

Technology Theme
Aircraft propulsion
Technology
Aviation hybrid electric powertrain
TRL
TRL 5
Development phase
Research/Invention

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