Aertec will develop and validate a technological demonstrator that monitors and controls the availability and operation of all new generation high voltage electrical systems that are developed in the HECATE project
The European aviation industry is working to achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Advancing the development of hybrid-electric aircraft is one of the keys to meeting this challenge. However, to support the new propulsion systems, new high-voltage electrical distribution technologies will be required as electrical power levels increase from hundreds of kilowatts today to megawatt levels in aircraft of the future.
This is the main objective of HECATE (Hybrid ElectriC regional Aircraft distribution Technologies), a project led by the technology provider Collins Aerospace and in which 37 companies and entities from 11 European countries participate, including which, in addition to Aertec, are Airbus Defense and Space, Safran, Leonardo, Thales or Fokker, as well as a dozen universities and technology centers throughout Europe.
The HECATE consortium will develop high-voltage electrical distribution systems for hybrid regional aircraft, with the specific objective of demonstrating a >500 kW hybrid-electric architecture in ground tests at Technology Maturity Level (TRL) 5 by 2025. They will be state-of-the-art high-voltage electrical technologies, with a low carbon footprint, in line with the objectives of Clean Aviation, the leading joint research and innovation program of the European Union, UK Research and Innovation and the aviation industry to transform aviation towards a sustainable and climate neutral future
“Aertec’s contribution will focus on researching, developing and validating a technological demonstrator of the “Global Health Monitoring” system that monitors and controls the availability and operation of all new generation high voltage electrical systems that are developed in the HECATE project for the hybrid-electric regional aircraft”, says Rafael Ortiz, Head of the Aerospace and Defense Systems Area at Aertec.
The Spanish engineering company is haighly specialized in avionics, aircraft electrification, certifiable on-board software, and guidance, navigation and control systems, and has led the development of intelligent and innovative solutions for electrical power distribution in aircraft.
