HEROPS

Background

As we look towards the future, the demand for innovative and sustainable technologies in aviation is rapidly growing. Our goal is to introduce climate-neutral propulsion systems for regional aircraft by 2035, aligning with the increasing expectations of our customers for greener travel options.

We are committed to supporting global and regional government strategies, such as the European Green Deal, which aims for climate-neutral aviation by 2050. This ambitious objective includes 100% prevention of CO2 and NOx emissions and a significant reduction—up to 80%—in the climate impact from contrails and contrail cirrus.

However, achieving these goals requires advancements in power distribution and protection systems, which are currently not available for fully-electric regional aircraft. 

Solution

HEROPS aims to introduce climate-neutral hydrogen-electric powered propulsion into the regional aircraft. This hydrogen-electric propulsion system uses fuel cells as the sole power source and a liquid hydrogen fuel system, without the need for high-power batteries, in an efficient and safe system with a high power-to-weight ratio.

• HEROPS targets to demonstrate and validate a 1.2 MW propulsion system based on a scalable 600 kW core module at TRL4. 
• Complemented by simulation and electrical network testing of the overall modularized system, scalable to a 2 – 4 MW power level.
• The certification program will build upon ongoing certification activities, enabling timely maturation of the aviation-native HEROPS technology against relevant certification requirements.

Eaton aims to develop, demonstrate and validate a novel and scalable 100kW power distribution systems for fuel cells meeting strict aviation demands on efficiency, safety, ambient conditions, form factor and weight.

Results

This program is designed to drive the aviation electrification strategy in collaboration with our customers, ensuring we're able to commercialize and be first to market with these technologies and product offerings. By leveraging our expertise from stationary applications and the automotive sector, we have created advanced systems tailored for aviation.

Collaborating closely with our aviation customers, we have addressed their specific needs and opened new markets with significant growth potential. This proactive approach has positioned us as leaders in aviation electrification, setting new industry standards.

Our efforts align with government strategies for climate-neutral aviation, reducing CO2 and NOx emissions, and minimizing the climate impact of contrails. We are committed to advancing our technologies and expanding our market presence, supporting the global transition to sustainable air travel.

For more information visit: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101140499

Project Manager: Pavel Ceinar

^{*Funded by European Union´s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 874972. Views and opinions expressed in this document are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.}