Embraer Energia: exploring the hybrid and electric aircraft of the future
Embraer is exploring options to start production of a series of more sustainable aircraft, to enable aviation to cut CO₂ emissions. The aircraft manufacturer has presented four concepts for sustainably powered aircraft. The so-called Energia Family consists of aircraft of different sizes, using different types of fuel.
Embraer's Energia project is exploring a range of sustainable concepts to carry up to 50 passengers. This project is considering a number of energy sources, propulsion architectures and airframe layouts to reduce carbon emissions by 50% starting from 2030 – a key step in the aircraft manufacturer's goal to be net carbon neutral by 2050.
Image by Embraer
Technologically viable
The Brazilian manufacturer is planning to explore the ideas in the near future, to find out if the technology is viable and the aircraft are commercially interesting to actually take into production.
The first option is a hybrid-electric concept. The Energy Hybrid (E9-HE) should seat nine passengers and be ready to fly in 2030. The aircraft has two engines, located at the rear. Embraer expects the type to emit ninety percent less CO₂ than current aircraft of the same size. Embraer comments: "Combining a mix of technologies, hybrid-electric propulsion enables us to harvest the benefits from maximizing thermal and electric engines synergies."
Fly fully electric
In addition, there is the Energia Electric (E9-FE), which should be able to fly fully electric with nine passengers on board. The type, with a counter-rotating propeller at the back, is CO₂-neutral and should take to the air in 2035. Embraer: "By developing higher capacity and longer-lasting batteries, a full-electric aircraft, designed for short-range missions, could reduce the aircraft CO₂ emissions to zero."
The Energy H2 Fuel Cell (E19-H2FC) uses electric motors powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The aircraft has to be able to carry nineteen passengers and should be ready in 2035. Embraer about the benefits of hydrogen in aviation: "Hydrogen is a highly promising area in our journey to achieve zero emission flight – enabling us to generate thrust while reducing carbon emissions to zero. Hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to either run as a single power source or as a hybrid with gas turbines or batteries."
Finally, there is the Energy H2 Gas Turbine (E50-H2GT), which uses hydrogen or a mix of sustainable paraffin and traditional fuel. Embraer expects the aircraft to generate zero CO₂ emissions and carry 35 to 50 passengers. The type should be ready for use by 2040. Dual fuel has great potential, Embraer claims. "Dual-fuel enables us to power a gas turbine with two different fuel sources (SAF or Hydrogen), to maximize operational flexibility and reduce aircraft weight. Using a modified gas turbine, adapted to these new fuel sources, we can increase range and passengers capacity."
